Skip to main content
Oregon.gov Homepage

Science Assessment

Purpose

Oregon’s Statewide Science Assessments include computer-based assessments at grades 5, 8, and high school, as well as local performance assessments at grades K-High School.

This toolkit has been created to provide districts, schools, teachers, families, and community members with more information about the Oregon Statewide Assessment System Science Assessment. 


OSAS Science Assessment Exemption Request

Question: I cannot find an opt-out form for the Science Assessment.  If one exists, can you kindly direct me to where I can locate it?  If it does not exist, what do we advise parents to do?​

Answer: The term 'opt-out' refers to the legislatively created process that applies to the ELA and Math assessments. For science assessments, parents may request their student be exempted from testing based on disability or religion. Unlike the opt-out process for Math and ELA, parent requests for exemption from all other tests must satisfy the following conditions:

  • Be submitted in writing to the district
  • Include the reasons for request (disability or religion)
  • Propose an alternative learning activity for the student

Exemption requests are subject to district review and determination whether to approve. An ODE developed form for exemption requests does not exist. For more information regarding opt-out and exemption requests, please see the Test Administration Manual section 5.3.

Oregon’s Science Assessment Blueprints

This document contains target descriptions, evidence required, and range achievement level descriptors​

​​​

​
​​​​​​​​

​In Oregon, the Local Performance Assessment Requirement​​ states that school districts shall administer one or more performance assessment each year to all students in grades 3 through 8 and in high school in: mathematics, scientific inquiry, speaking, and writing.

Performance assessments must be a standardized measure (e.g., activity, exercise, problem, or work sample scored by a common scoring instrument, such as the official state scoring guides or another scoring guide adopted by the district) that is embedded in the school curriculum and evaluates the application of students’ knowledge and skills. Work Samples, scored using the official state scoring guide, are just one example of acceptable performance assessments. Districts have substantial flexibility when it comes to planning the performance assessments that will be used to fulfill this requirement.

Scoring Guides

Support Documents

Model Scientific Inquiry High School Student Template

Scored Student Work

Student Work
Student work scored using the state Scoring Guide

Resources

​
​​​​

​Communication

Professional Development

​

​2019-2020 Science Communication Toolkit

This toolkit has been created to provide districts, schools, teachers, families, and community members with more information about the Oregon Statewide Assessment System Science Assessment.

For more information about Oregon's Science Assessment, please contact Noelle Gorbett at 503-947-5928.

 

Your browser is out-of-date! It has known security flaws and may not display all features of this and other websites. Learn how

×