Washington WaKIDS

WaKIDS for Transitional Kindergarten and Kindergarten

During the first three days of school the teachers hold the WaKids Family Connection meetings with each student and family, individually. The Family Connection component of WaKIDS  is a one-on-one meeting with a child’s family/guardian to welcome them to the K-12 system.

The Family Connection component of WaKIDS acknowledges the family's role as their child's first teacher and invites them to share the unique insights they have about their child. The Family Connection offers families an opportunity to get to know the teacher, share information about their child, and ask questions.

What is WaKIDS?

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.

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.

Click here for a short video with more information. 

Who takes WaKIDS?

All Eatonville School District Kindergarten and Transitional Kindergarten Students

WaKIDS consists of:

  • 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.

What skills are on the WaKIDS inventory?

Early in the school year, kindergarten teachers take an inventory of each child's developing skills in six areas:

  • Social-emotional
  • Physical
  • Cognitive
  • Language
  • Literacy
  • Mathematics

The teacher uses an observational tool called GOLD® Objectives and Dimensions for WaKIDS – Evidence Worksheet.

When is WaKIDS administered?

The Office of Supervisor of Public Instruction (OSPI) establishes state assessment testing windows each school year. Districts and schools schedule state assessment administration dates within those OSPI windows. WaKids is administered the first day of school through November 15.  Teachers input information into the system by November 15. Teachers will share the reports with families after the November 15 entry. 

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