What Is OSAS? How Does It Work? Why Do We Have It?
The Oregon Department of Education (ODE) requires that schools provide Oregon Statewide Assessment System (OSAS) testing every year, and spring testing season is coming up again.
What Should You and Your Family Expect?
All OSAS testing takes place sometime between April 8 and May 24 at all schools in the Newberg-Dundee School District. Students in Grades 3-8 and 11 will take the OSAS English/Language Arts (ELA) and Math Assessments (two separate exams). Students in Grades 5, 8, and 11 will take the OSAS Science Assessment (an exam).
“If you are wondering what a typical standardized state test might look like, you would see students on Chromebooks logging into a test session and completing multiple choice questions, long-form writing, and short response writing,” said Brittany Morales, Teaching and Learning Coordinator and District Testing Coordinator.
Morales oversees the training of the Testing Coordinators stationed at each school building. The Test Coordinators handle the exam logistics on-site, collaborating with their building administrators. Students take the exams in their classroom during the school day but only during designated hours, which vary by school. Students do not take the test in one sitting. Each student has from April 8 to May 24 to finish the tests that their grade level takes.
How Does Staff Prepare for the OSAS Testing?
Since the beginning of this school year, staff and building administrators have been prepping for the OSAS summative testing season,” said Morales, adding that a summative assessment is an exam to evaluate student learning. “This preparation includes test-taking strategies, practice test questions, and work with interim assessments, which are a full practice test of questions.”
Building administrators have been supporting staff with planning and test administration training.
"The Teaching and Learning Department supports teachers with the training they need to incorporate the OSAS content into their daily lessons, supporting real-world problem-solving," said Jillian Felizarta, Director of Teaching and Learning.
Morales noted that one of the keys to OSAS testing success at schools is logistics.
“A very important role in testing is logistics, in terms of setting up test sessions, making sure students have the right accommodations, and ensuring test completion,” Morales said. “All of those tasks rely on each school’s Test Coordinator.”
This hard work has not gone unnoticed.
“I really appreciate the hardworking staff who are the school test coordinators,” Morales said. “They, along with our staff and students, play a vital role in OSAS testing.”
Felizarta agreed.
“We are so proud of the student growth that we’ve seen this last year and appreciate all of the staff who have been supporting students in their achievement,” she said. “Meaningful and relevant instructional experiences are critical to support student achievement and our teachers’ passion for this is evident.”
Why Do Schools Do OSAS Testing?
Morales said that we all know the ODE requires that schools participate in assessments, but how do the tests benefit students and staff?
“While no single assessment can give a complete picture of your child’s progress, statewide assessments provide Newberg-Dundee educators and administrators with one source of information about what educational approaches are working and where additional resources may be needed,” Morales explained. “Your child’s participation is important to ensure Newberg-Dundee Public Schools can identify the areas in which we are meeting students’ overall needs, as well as to identify areas of growth.”