If it's May, it's time for testing

To many of us, May promises that our barbecues will come out of hiding, sport boats will be launched for the first trip of the season and winter coats will finally be tucked into the depths of hall closets.

For students in grades 3-8, May promises something different: It is time for The Measurements of Student Progress (MSP) exam.

The MSP, which replaced the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) in the spring of 2010, is the standardized test developed by Washington State as required by state and federal law. The new MSP is a condensed version of the WASL with online versions being phased in.

The MSP and High School Proficiency Exam (HSPE), which high school sophomores took in March, are based on the state’s learning standards. Students are tested in:

--Reading: Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10

--Writing: Grades 4, 7 and 10

--Math: Grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8 and 10

--Science: Grades 5, 8 and 10

So just as the sun has come out of hiding in Wahkiakum County, local teachers are fitting in essential pieces of curriculum, and students are sharpening their number two pencils all in hopes of improving on last year’s standardized assessment scores.