News

We are excited to share an important update to the WARNS scoring system. The Total Risk score changes to a Total Need for Support score with three levels: Low, Moderate, and High Need for Support.  This is a change from Low and High Risk. We maintain the 6 domain scores of Low, Moderate, and High […]

WARNS is making a significant impact in addressing student absenteeism across Washington and beyond. With record-high absenteeism rates, more districts are turning to this research-backed tool developed by Washington State University to better understand and support students. A recent article from the Washington State Standard highlights how WARNS is helping schools identify the root causes […]

Chronic absenteeism has become a significant concern in schools nationwide, with the pandemic exacerbating the issue. recent Q&A, Washington State Magazine delved into this topic, featuring insights from Washington State University researchers involved with the Washington Assessment of the Risks and Needs of Students (WARNS). The discussion sheds light on the current state of absenteeism […]

As of January 1, 2023, we have been testing new items for the high school WARNS. New items for the middle school WARNS were also introduced for testing at the end of March. The new items incorporate a strengths-based approach to complement the original risk domains that the WARNS has traditionally measured. We will be […]

A Spanish translation of the WARNS assessment for Middle School students is now available to you online! Spanish for the High School WARNS is coming shortly.

In July of 2021, the Washington State University WARNS team was awarded approximately $1.5 million dollars from the US Department of Education Institute for Education Sciences. The purpose of the grant is to refine and update the WARNS assessment for both the high school and middle school. Outcomes of the grant include: New strengths-based items […]