Alternative Assessment

In the spring of 2004, the legislature made changes and added additional assessment options for high school graduation (HB 2195). Participation in the Washington State Assessment System, including the Washington Alternate Assessment System, helps to ensure that the needs of all students will be considered in policy and curriculum decisions. Consistent with the Individualized Education Program (IEP) a student in special education may participate in the state assessment system in the following ways:

• taking the WASL without accommodations,

• taking the WASL with accommodations,

• taking the WASL-Modified (WASL-MO), with or without accommodations.

This option that allows a student to pass the grade level WASL with Level 2, or “Basic” proficiency,

• and, for a number of students in special education who cannot participate in the Washington Assessment of Student Learning (WASL) even with accommodations, participating in the Washington Alternate Assessment System (WAAS) which includes Developmentally Appropriate WASL (WAASDAW) and WAAS-Portfolio.

HB 2195 also provides additional assessment options for students in special education to meet requirements for high school graduation. Students in special education continue to have the option of being assessed with the WASL or the WAAS-Portfolio identified in the student’s Individualized Education Program (IEP). Beginning in 2005-06 students in special education may also be assessed against alternate achievement standards using the Developmentally Appropriate WASL (DAW). These two options, WAAS-Portfolio and WAAS-DAW for students eligible for special education, comprise the Washington Alternate Assessment System (WAAS). Students who meet alternate achievement standards in each content area can receive a Certificate of Individual Achievement (CIA). Both the Certificate of Academic Achievement (CAA) and the Certificate of Individual Achievement (CIA) are approved pathways to a regular high school diploma.

Download the pdf file for more information.

(Source: OSPI: Office of Superintendent of Public Instruction)