State by state template created by UOO, http://unitedoptout.com

Testing opt-out/refusal guide for: WEST VIRGINIA

Form completed by Leigh Griffith - updated July, 2014

Contact information (email) leighleigh75@hotmail.com

LIST OF ASSESSMENTS:Required for all students in West Virginia(WESTEST 2) WEST VIRGINIA EDUCATIONAL STANDARDS TESTS - Includes Online Writing

Grades 3-11 with a 12 Grade Math Retest for all students who did not meet college readiness benchmark in the areas of reading, math and science.WESTEST 2 Online Writing: Grades 3-11 (Writing Scores are integrated into WESTEST 2 Reading/Language Arts Scores.Federal requirement for all students except students identified by APTA. WESTEST 2 (Grades 3-11)is a criterion-referenced test that measures student mastery of the West Virginia Content Standards and Objectives (CSOs) by the content area and grade level of the students enrollment. The purpose of the WESTEST is to measure student mastery of the CSOs. The assessment results are used to determine achievement levels, re-direct instruction and assist in school improvement efforts in reading/language arts, mathematics, science and social studies. However, WESTEST 2 results are used to calculate accountability to meet the NCLB accountability requirements in grades 3-8 and 11 in reading/language arts and mathematics (See AYP Calculation Chart). CTB/McGraw-Hill is the vendor for WESTEST 2. WESTEST 2 Online Writingis a component of the reading/language arts portion of WESTEST 2. This criterion-referenced test is designed to measure the writing ability of West Virginia students and is administered to all students in grades 3-11 who are not required to take the West Virginia Alternate Performance Task Assessment (APTA). WESTEST 2 Online Writing assesses student writing skills based on Standard 2: Writing of the 21st Century Reading and English Language Arts Content Standards and Objectives for West Virginia Schools. The purpose of the WESTEST 2 Online Writing is to inform instruction in the important area of written communication and to assist teachers in improving the writing skills of West Virginia students to meet national educational standards, higher education goals and global economic demands.

HEAP Health Assessment

FitnessGram Physical Fitness Assessment

Required of select student groups(NAEP) NATIONAL ASSESSMENT OF EDUCATIONAL PROGRESS

(APTA) ALTERNATE PERFORMANCE TASK ASSESSMENT

WORK KEYS

Global 21 Career/Technical Education (CTE) Performance Assessment

WESTELL

Early Learning Scale

Teaching Strategies GOLD

ACT EXPLORE* (Grade 8)

ACT PLAN* (Grade 10)

Optional AssessmentsGolden Horseshoe

(PIRLS) Progress in International Reading Literacy Study

(PISA) Program for International Student Assessment

(ODBIA) Online District Benchmark Interim Assessment

(OTA) Online Technology Assessment

Statewide SupportsAcuity

Creative Curriculum.net

DIBELS or Other Informal Assessments

Riverdeep

techSteps

TestMate Clarity

Odyssey

West Virginia Writes

The West Virginia Department of Education utilizes aNational Technical Advisory Committee(TAC) and a State

OPT OUT STRATEGY CONSIDERATIONS FOR SPECIFIC ASSESSMENTS

GENERAL OPT OUT STRATEGY CONSIDERATIONSWe continue to get inquiries about a parents right to opt out of statewide assessments. We know of no laws that prohibit parents from opting out. In fact, at the Common Core Informational Meeting in Harrison County, December 19, 2013, the opt out issue was discussed.The discussion of Opt Out is between Michael Queen, President of the Harrison County School Board, and Dr. James Phares, the WV State Superintendent of Schools, and begins at about 1hr 26min 32sec into the video. In this video, Dr. Phares says parents can opt out with no penalty to the student. Below is a best effort transcription of that discussion.OPT OUT DISCUSSIONQueen: What are the penalties if parents opt their student out of taking the test, the Westest?Phares: What are the penalties if students opt out.Well, first of all, they can opt out.They can.Queen: They can opt out?Phares: Yes, they can if they have a reason to do so. It could be for many reasons.The penalty. There is no penalty for students.But there is a Participation Rate that all schools must meet.Queen: Ok, so we would penalize the school more so.Theres no penalty for the students?Phares: No. None.(unidentified inaudible voice)Queen: I have heard that. As a way to protest that parents would ask their studentsnot to participate and that would hurt the overall rating of the school.(unidentified inaudible voice)Phares: Participation rate is one of the standards that we hold our schools accountable with... End of Opt Out Discussion ..

Other Opt Out Possibilities

Current Legislationhttp://www.legis.state.wv.us/

Urgency for opt-out/refusal

Sample language to include in opt-out/refusal (See following photo)

Resources and organizationshttp://kcs.kana.k12.wv.us/KCS11/

http://wvagainstcommoncore.wvconstitutionaladvocates.com/2014/04/optional-opt-assessments-form/

State specific watch-list: nothing currently

Additional or miscellaneous informationWest Virginia is a governing state within Smarter Balanced, a multi-state assessment consortium, awarded a USED grant to design a next generation assessment aligned with the Common Core State Standards for English language arts and mathematics. The first administration of this assessment will occur in the spring of the 2014-2015 school year.

This is not a legal document. It is for informational purposes only. Template revised: 7.25.14

This is not a legal document. It is for informational purposes only.Template revised: 7.29.14