Do Open Doors students need to take state assessments?
Generally, speaking, no. Here are considerations around testing:
- Most students entering Open Doors have already already taken the state SBA assessments, as they are administered at the 10th grade level.
- Passing state assessments is not required for high school graduation or graduation pathways.
- Districts are responsible for meeting a 95% level of participation for state assessment of all 10th grade students who are eligible to test, according to their graduation cohort.
Benefits of testing Open Doors students:
- Provides the student with an opportunity to meet the ELA and/or math graduation pathway(s).
- Gives you an estimate of skills so that student growth goals can be set.
- If the student passes a test, it's an IAP.
- Some districts will approve high school credit for passing tests (if allowed per school board policy).
- For the rare 10th grade Open Doors student (since they have to be 16 by September 1 to enter Open Doors), their participation benefits district and program participation data.
Work with your district assessment director in order to coordinate any assessments given, including any accommodations for those for students who have a documented need, per their IEP.
For the graduating classes of 2020 through 2022, emergency waivers have given students much-needed flexibility to earn their high school diploma.
Video these segments from GREW webinar
- 6:54 – 13:00 Overview and reminder of “the GREW who, what, and how”
- 25:30 – 28:20 Confirming “post-secondary preparation” requirement
Read more about the waivers on SBE's blog
The purpose of the LOLA Focus Area Network is to support collaboration between ESDs and OSPI/OSSI to organize and support regional networks for alternative learning leaders, including: 1) Advancing understanding of best practices; 2) Collaborating with, and learning from colleagues, as well as ESD/OSPI partners; 3) Exploring tools for establishing equity-based, anti-racist, and student-centered school communities; 4) Learning strategies for strengthening data use to inform continuous improvement and system change; and 5) supporting regional reengagement programming.
Overarching Goals for Leaders of Learning Alternative Network
- Maintain, increase, diversify attendance LOLA meetings to provide networking opportunities.
- Use evidence-based practices as a guide to assess progress and guide PD offerings.
- Examine equity relative to processes/practices and student outcomes.
- Support and enhance regional reengagement programming.
It should take students 15 to 20 minutes to complete and schools will get their results from the survey in April.
The survey asks questions like:
- In the past school year, how often have you felt a sense of belonging at your school?
- If you have been absent in the last 30 days, please select the reasons why you have been absent.
- Think back over this school year so far. How often did feel the schoolwork you were assigned was meaningful and important?
- In the past school year, how often have you felt safe at school?
You can find all the questions that are asked on the survey here.
Schools can register now and get the survey link right away to share with their students. Schools have until February 28th to administer the survey to their students.
If you have any questions, please contact Emily Maughan; Emily.Maughan@k12.wa.us 360-725-6030.
Additional iGrants Funds
Additional funds are available for schools and programs with existing iGrants in form packages 871, 873 and 874 - those identified as eligible for comprehensive and comprehensive graduation rate supports per the 2017 WSIF. The funds are purposed to support the priority goals of the school’s improvement plan. The deadline to claim these funds is February 28.
All you need to do is create a budget revision to claim the additional money – no new application is necessary. After February 28, all unapplied for additional funds will be redistributed and no longer available.
For more details or questions, contact Mary Adams, OSSI Continuous Improvement Program Supervisor at mary.adams@k12.wa.us or (360) 764-0198.
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Washington Association for Learning Alternatives (WALA) The WALA Spring Conference is happening on February 24-26, 2022 in Spokane. Sessions are scheduled for Open Doors topics! Register here. Walk-in registrations accepted.
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GATE Equity Webinar Series - Regular monthly webinars. Information and registration available through the GATE website.
Past Newsletters:
Check our website for previous years' newsletter topics.
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