The purpose of the "Guide to Interpretation" is to assist Rhode Island educators in understanding the links between performance assessment and classroom instruction. This guide offers an overview of the Health Education Performance Assessment taken by all Rhode Island students in grades 5 and 9, an explanation of the scoring process, and a discussion of the implications of performance assessment for classroom instruction. Students receive scores on their answers to 8 open-ended and 24 multiple-choice items that reflect the state's health education standards as well as the 8 content areas. The results of the Health Education Performance Assessment are used to provide feedback to students and parents, inform and assist teachers in making instructional decisions, and demonstrate accountability to families, communities, and the state. Appendixes discuss student participation and assessment accommodations, present the Rhode Island Health Education Standards, and contain a sample grade-9 student report. The "Interpretation Guide for Families, Grades 5 and 9" explains the tests and the scoring process to parents. This guide contains examples of the multiple-choice and performance assessment (essay) questions and answers for each grade. (SLD)