About Classroom Based Assessments (CBAs)
Social Studies CBA(s) are multi-stepped tasks or projects aligned to specific state standards (Social Studies EALRs). They are project-based activities that promote the skills necessary to becoming an active and well-informed world citizen. Classroom based assessments are designed to encourage engaged student learning.
Washington State Law
RCW 28A.230.095 includes two provisions. The first addresses all three areas, social studies, the arts, and health and fitness, and the second makes special reference to civics. The law states:
(1) By the end of the 2008-09 school year, school districts shall have in place in elementary schools, middle schools, and high schools assessments or other strategies to assure that students have an opportunity to learn the essential academic learning requirements in social studies, the arts, and health and fitness. Social Studies includes history, geography, civics, economics, and social studies skills. Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, school districts shall annually submit an implementation verification report to the office of the superintendent of public instruction.
(2) Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, school districts shall require students in the fourth or fifth grades, the seventh or eighth* grades, and the eleventh or twelfth grades to each complete at least one classroom-based assessment in civics. The civics assessment may be selected from a list of classroom-based assessments approved by the office of the superintendent of public instruction. Beginning with the 2008-09 school year, school districts shall annually submit implementation verification reports to the office of the superintendent of public instruction documenting the use of the classroom-based assessments in civics.
*Lakota Middle School meets this requirement in eighth grade with the “Constitutional Issues” CBA.
