Finds that: (1) A statewide student assessment system should improve and inform classroom instruction, support accountability, and provide useful information to all levels of the educational system;

(2) Components of the assessment system should: (a) be instructionally supportive formative assessments, (b) be a state-administered summative achievement assessment that can be used as a check on the educational system in order to guide state expectations for the instruction of children and satisfy legislative demands for accountability, and (c) include classroom-based assessments, which may be formative, summative, or both;

(3) To sustain a strong and viable assessment system, preservice and ongoing training should be provided for teachers and administrators on the effective use of different types of assessments; and

(4) As the statewide data system is developed, data should be collected for all state-required statewide assessments to be used for accountability and to monitor overall student achievement.

Declares an intent to redesign the current statewide system, in accordance with the recommendations of the Washington assessment of student learning legislative work group.

Requires the superintendent of public instruction, in consultation with the state board of education, to begin design and development of an overall assessment system that meets the principles and characteristics described in section 1 of the act.