Assessments

Understanding Oregon’s Statewide Education Tools

At North Wasco County School District, we believe in transparency, continuous improvement, and using data to support every student’s success. The Oregon Department of Education provides several key tools that help families, educators, and community members better understand how students are learning, how schools are performing, and how we can grow together.

Explore Statewide Data and Assessments

Click each section below to learn more about the tools Oregon uses to measure student success, school performance, and learning environments ▼

Measure what students know and can do.

Learn how these annual assessments support learning by evaluating progress in core academic areas.

📝 Oregon Statewide Assessments (OSAS)

The Oregon Statewide Assessment System (OSAS) is a set of annual assessments designed to measure how well students are learning the knowledge and skills outlined in Oregon’s academic standards. These assessments provide valuable information to educators, families, and the state about student progress and school performance.

OSAS assessments are administered in various subjects, including:

English Language Arts (ELA)
Mathematics
Science
English Language Proficiency (for students learning English)

The results help teachers tailor instruction, inform school improvement efforts, and ensure that all students—regardless of background—are on track for success in school and beyond.

Why OSAS Matters

Helps identify strengths and areas for growth at the student, school, and district level
Supports data-driven decision-making for teachers and administrators
Promotes equity by highlighting achievement gaps and directing resources where needed

Summative Assessments

Challenge students to think critically and apply their knowledge and skills to real-world problems
Test questions go beyond multiple-choice and allow students to explain their answers using short responses
Tests are aligned to higher standards that will measure what students know and are able to do at each grade level
Will be given after your child has completed at least two-thirds of the school year

Testing Time

The tests are not timed, so your child can take as long as he or she needs to fully demonstrate what he or she knows and can do
Your child will only test once each year, unlike our previous tests which many students took multiple times

Test Results Offer Feedback

No single test can give a complete picture of your child’s progress
The results of these tests act as a snapshot of your child’s progress and may be used along with other pieces of information to determine his or her strengths and areas for improvement
No student, parent, or teacher should be discouraged by the scores. The results provide an opportunity to focus on the needs of the student and support teachers and schools in their work
Students who earn a Level 3 or 4 on the tests and meet senior coursework requirements may also be able to forgo college placement testing and move directly into credit bearing courses in college

📤 Summative Assessment State Testing Opt-Out Information

Participation Matters

Your child’s participation is important to ensure schools and districts receive the targeted resources they need to help all students succeed
Oregon schools risk losing millions in federal funds if our participation drops too low. In addition to the financial risk, there is also a very real impact on our district improvement efforts
Not having information on our students’ academic progress limits our ability to accurately identify where students are struggling, where they are excelling, and whether we are fulfilling our goal of narrowing achievement gaps

Parental Rights

You have the right to opt your child out of state summative tests in English Language Arts and Math
To opt-out of the tests, you should complete the designated Opt-Out form and submit it to your child’s school
Any student exempted from a state test will be provided with supervised study time while other students are testing
By signing the Opt-Out form, you may lose valuable information about how well your child is progressing in English Language Arts and Math. Opting-out may impact efforts by your school and district to equitably distribute resources and support student learning

2024-2025 Annual Notice - English / Spanish

If you would still like to opt your student out of Summative Assessment Testing, please download the form below and return it to your student's school.

2024-2025 Summative Assessment combined 30-day notice and Opt-Out form:

(For Science ONLY)

If you do not wish for your student(s) to take the OSAS Science test you must request, in writing, an exemption based on either disability or religion and propose an alternative learning activity for your student. Opt-Out Form: English/Spanish

Understand how schools are performing.

Explore key data on student achievement, graduation rates, and school progress across the district.

📊 Oregon Statewide Report Cards

The Oregon Statewide Report Cards provide an annual snapshot of how Oregon’s public schools and districts are performing. These reports are issued by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) and are designed to promote transparency, accountability, and continuous improvement in education.

Each report card includes key data such as:

Student achievement and growth
Graduation and attendance rates
Demographic information
School climate and engagement indicators
Teacher qualifications and school funding

Why the Report Cards Matter

Help families and communities understand how schools are serving students
Allow schools and districts to celebrate successes and identify areas for growth
Support equity and improvement by highlighting disparities and tracking progress over time

These report cards are a valuable tool for parents, educators, policymakers, and community members who are invested in student success and school improvement.

For more information and past performance reports please visit the Oregon Department of Education website

ℹ️ 2023/2024 District Report Cards

Hear what students and educators are saying.

Discover how this statewide survey helps improve school climate, equity, and engagement.

💬 Oregon SEED Survey (Student Educational Equity Development)

The Student Educational Equity Development Survey (SEED) was developed by the Oregon Department of Education (ODE) to gather information about the educational experiences of students in Oregon. Results from the survey will help ODE define and allocate resources and supports for school districts and inform curriculum, instruction and other supports offered to students.

Districts are required to offer the SEED survey to all students in grades 3-11. Parents or students can decline participation. The easiest way to decline is for students to start the survey and answer "No" to the first question that asks whether the student wants to participate. Parents can also decline by completing the form at the bottom of this page and submitting it to the school or by talking to staff in the school office. The form must be completed each year.

The NWCSD SEED survey window for spring 2025 is March 17th - May 2nd. The survey takes 10-15 minutes to complete.

Survey Results from Spring 2024

State-level results are available here.

Resources

ODE Annual SEED Survey Notice (including form to decline participation)

English | Español

ODE SEED Survey Web Page