The Washington Kindergarten Inventory of Developing Skills (WaKIDS) is a transition process that helps to ensure a successful start to the K-12 experience and connect the key adults in a child’s life.
Three Components of WaKIDS
- Family connection welcomes families into the Washington K-12 system as partners in their child’s education.
- Whole-child assessment helps kindergarten teachers learn about the skills and strengths of the children in their classrooms so they can meet the needs of each child.
- Early learning collaboration aligns practices of early learning professionals and kindergarten teachers to support smooth transitions for children.
Whole-Child Assessment
WaKIDS isn’t a “test.” Kindergarten teachers observe children during everyday classroom activities. This helps teachers find out what each child knows and can do at the beginning of the school year. Knowing more about children’s entering skills and strengths helps teachers and parents work together to support student growth in the kindergarten year.
Before October 31, teachers take an inventory of each child’s developing skills in six areas:
- Social-emotional
- Physical
- Cognitive
- Language
- Literacy
- Mathematics
They use an observational tool called GOLD™ by Teaching Strategies® .
Parents who wish to excuse their children from participating in this inventory should notify their building principal in writing during the first week of school, or as soon as possible thereafter.
The state is phasing in WaKIDS in all state-funded, full-day kindergarten classrooms. Public schools that have not yet received state funding for full-day kindergarten may volunteer to participate, as well.
Resources
- What is WaKIDS? (PDF) English | Spanish – a one-page document that provides an overview of this program.
- Family Brochure (PDF) is an invitation for families of students who are participating in WaKIDS this year to get involved in the program and find out what to expect.