Updated School Improvement Data Released

Today, the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI) released updated data on the Washington School Improvement Framework (WSIF), the state’s accountability system for K­–12 schools.

The accountability system is fairly new. In 2017, OSPI and the State Board of Education (SBE) worked together to redesign the system in order to align it more closely with the intent of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA).

ESSA, which passed in 2015, encouraged states to shift their accountability actions to be less punitive, and to instead focus on building partnerships with schools who needed additional support to improve student performance, student growth in learning, and other aspects of student success.

The new process aims to provide a well-rounded view of a school and district. The WSIF utilizes several measures of student growth and proficiency, as well as measures of school quality including regular attendance, ninth graders on track to graduation, and dual credit participation.

Every three years, schools are assigned differing levels of state supports based on their WSIF score, including a network of state-provided partners who work closely with schools and districts to improve outcomes for students.

In the years between identification, WSIF scores are released to inform stakeholders and the public about progress, and to allow school and district leaders to use data when planning changes for the upcoming school year.

The current cycle of identification happened in 2018. New schools will be identified for support next year, in the spring of 2021.

For More Information

· Washington State Report Card (WSIF data or specific accountability measures are provided upon selecting a specific school)

· More about the Washington School Improvement Framework

· More about school improvement and the tiers of state support