ROYAL CITY - It's acronym season in the Royal School District, a time when students hear teachers and administrators speak a language that sounds a lot like the ABCs.

The most important of the acronyms the students will here are HSPE (High School Proficiency Exam) EOC (End of Course) and MSP (Measurement of Student progress). Those are exams mandated by the state.

The spring assessment schedule is in full swing at Royal. From kindergarten to 12th grade, students are being assessed for their academic levels.

In describing this spring assessment season it sounds like an avalanche of acronyms. Testing across the district includes WELPA, NWEA, Easy CBMs, DIBELS, MSP, EOC, AP, and HSPE.

And these are all on top of classroom tests that teachers give as part of the curriculum. Yes, they still do that.

For easy reference, an acronym guide follows:

• WELPA: Washington English Language Proficiency Assessment
• NWEA: Northwest Evaluation Association
• Easy CBM: Curriculum-based Measurement
• DIBELS: Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills
• HSPE: High School Proficiency Exam
• EOC: End of Course
• MSP: Measurement of Student Progress
• AP: Advanced Placement
• DAC: District Assessment Coordinator

Royal School District starts this process in February, and it stretches to the end of the school year. To have an idea of who tests in what grades, here is the lineup.

K-2: WELPA, NWEA, DIBELS and some Easy CBMs

3-8: WELPA, NWEA, MSP

9-12: WELPA, NWEA, HSPE, EOC, AP

"When we think of state testing for schools being judged on Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) we are talking about those MSP assessments in grades 3-8," Red Rock Elementary assistant principal Rich Gregoire said.

"These assessments measure students in math, reading, science and writing. EOC for grades 7-12 are end of course exams for algebra, geometry and biology. HSPE for grades 10-12 measures students in reading and writing."

According to Gregoire, the WELPA is Washington State's English Language Proficiency Assessment, which measures English language abilities.

NWEA is an assessment school districts use to help measure student progress in reading and math at multiple points during the school year. This test is taken on a computer.

DIBELS is an indicator to determine early literacy skills, and it is given multiple times in a year. Easy CBMs are benchmark assessments given for math and reading to help determine placement and intervention strategies in a school-wide tiered intervention model used at Red Rock.

Lastly, there is AP testing. This is a test done at the high school level for Advanced Placement class and, at Royal High, AP classes in US Government and Politics and Calculus AB.

"If all this doesn't make you confused, you're probably ready for some testing," Gregoire said. "However, your child, or children may not be. They will need your help to get ready and stay ready. Make sure to send them to school after a good night's rest and a nourishing breakfast."

Posted on the district website is the calendar for all of the state mandated testing. Students at the grade levels should bring specific test calendars home for parental/guardian review, Gregoire said.

Questions may be directed to the DAC, Rich Gregoire at 509-346-2206.