By Aaron Allen, The Seattle Medium
Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) recently published data from the spring 2024 state assessments, showing that students are on track for a strong recovery in math, though a continued focus on literacy remains critical. The assessments offer insights into student performance in Washington schools, with officials emphasizing the importance of interpreting the results accurately.
“We often see the results of these tests being miscommunicated to mean something that they don’t,” said State Superintendent Chris Reykdal. “The state tests are not Pass/Fail, and students who do not meet the college readiness proficiency standard are not necessarily below grade level in their knowledge.”
The state assessments, which are administered each spring to students in grades 3 through 8 and grade 10, are designed to evaluate the depth of each student’s knowledge and skills in math and English language arts. Reykdal noted, “On the tests, students demonstrate their grade-level knowledge and skills along a continuum of complexity.”
OSPI officials explained that the assessments categorize student achievement into four levels, each indicating a different degree of knowledge and skill mastery. “Achievement levels on the state assessment represent a range of performances,” officials said. “While level one shows achievement that is not on grade level, level two shows foundational grade-level knowledge and skills.”
“Levels three and four indicate students are on track for college-level learning without needing remedial classes,” OSPI officials added, underscoring that higher levels reflect students’ readiness for advanced learning.
Washington students continue to perform comparably to, or better than, students across the country on the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), the only national assessment that provides reliable state-by-state comparisons. Despite national trends, Washington remains competitive in both math and literacy assessments.
In his 2025 budget proposal to the Governor and Legislature, Superintendent Reykdal included a request for funding an innovative artificial intelligence (AI) reading tool. The tool is designed to allow students to practice reading aloud while receiving immediate, individualized feedback to support their learning. “The tool will provide real-time data to each child’s teacher, supporting educators to quickly identify students who may need additional support,” the proposal outlines.
The importance of such tools is underscored by the challenges schools have faced since the COVID-19 pandemic. In fall 2021, at the height of the pandemic, Washington, like many other states, experienced a noticeable decline in assessment scores. According to data and research, these trends reflected national patterns, with test scores falling by several percentage points.
Though scores have not yet fully returned to pre-pandemic levels, the rise in scores since 2022 highlights the efforts of Washington’s educators, students, and families to drive improvement. The upward trend is a promising sign of recovery, particularly in math, but Reykdal stresses that more work remains to be done, especially in literacy.
“These trends in reading and mathematics are occurring across the nation, but in Washington, we can be different,” said Reykdal. “Literacy and mathematics are the foundational building blocks to future learning across all content areas, and we are doubling down on our focus on early literacy in particular.”