Washington State Lesson Plan Generator

Washington State’s K–12 public school teachers work within a standards framework established by the Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction (OSPI). Washington’s comprehensive K–12 Learning Standards cover English Language Arts, Mathematics, Science, Social Studies, Health, Physical Education, Arts, and World Languages. Washington’s ELA standards are aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) framework, branded as Washington’s K–12 Learning Standards for ELA. The Common Core ELA standards require a specific instructional approach: significant emphasis on informational text at every grade level, text-dependent questioning (students must find evidence in the text rather than relying on prior knowledge), evidence-based writing, and academic discussion grounded in text. For Washington teachers, this means lesson plans must include text-dependent questions that cannot be answered from background knowledge alone, require written or oral evidence from the text, and build toward extended, evidence-based writing at all grade levels. Washington is currently in the initial adoption and implementation phase of new 2025–26 K–12 Mathematics Learning Standards — a significant update that Washington teachers across all grade levels are currently working to understand and implement. Washington adopted the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) as its official science learning standards, which requires three-dimensional instruction integrating Science and Engineering Practices, Disciplinary Core Ideas, and Crosscutting Concepts at every grade level.

The primary statewide assessment administered in Washington is the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC) assessment, which evaluates ELA and Mathematics proficiency for students in grades 3 through 8 and grade 11. Smarter Balanced uses a two-component structure: a Computer Adaptive Test (CAT) that adjusts in difficulty based on each student’s responses, and a Performance Task (PT) that requires students to complete multi-step, extended work such as reading multiple texts and writing an evidence-based essay or analysis. For Washington ELA teachers, SBAC alignment means lessons must develop four specific competencies: Claim 1 (Reading, with emphasis on close reading and text-dependent analysis), Claim 2 (Writing, particularly evidence-based writing that draws on text evidence), Claim 3 (Speaking and Listening), and Claim 4 (Research and Inquiry). Washington also administers the Washington Comprehensive Assessment of Science (WCAS), an NGSS-aligned science assessment in grades 5, 8, and 11 that tests students on three-dimensional science performance expectations.

Washington State has a legally mandated curriculum requirement unique among the fifty states: under Senate Bill 5433 (2015), all Washington public schools are required to incorporate the “Since Time Immemorial: Tribal Sovereignty in Washington State” curriculum — formally renamed the “John McCoy (luliľaš) Since Time Immemorial” (JMlSTI) curriculum — or another curriculum developed in consultation with tribal governments. According to the OSPI STI curriculum resource page, this curriculum covers the history, culture, treaty rights, and contemporary political and legal status of Washington’s 29 federally recognized tribal nations — including the Puyallup, Muckleshoot, Tulalip, Yakama, Quinault, Spokane, and Colville peoples, among others. STI/JMlSTI content is expected to be integrated across subject areas and grade levels. The Professional Educator Standards Board (PESB) requires all Washington educator preparation programs to include STI training. EasyClass generates lesson plans that incorporate Since Time Immemorial learning objectives and tribal sovereignty content appropriate for each grade level and subject area, helping Washington teachers meet this mandatory integration requirement without needing to build STI lesson plans from scratch.

Washington teachers are evaluated under the Teacher/Principal Evaluation and Growth Program (TPEP), which uses one of three approved instructional frameworks: Charlotte Danielson’s Framework for Teaching (2022 update required for 2025–26), Marzano’s New Art and Science of Teaching (NASOT), or the CEL 5D+ Instructional Framework. TPEP evaluates Washington teachers against eight core criteria. Washington teachers in their first three years undergo comprehensive evaluations covering all eight criteria, while experienced teachers complete focused evaluations targeting two self-selected criteria. EasyClass formats Washington State lesson plans to include measurable objectives, evidence of differentiation, and assessment components that support positive TPEP evaluation outcomes across all three approved frameworks.