Wisconsin Alternate Assessment for Students with Disabilities (WAA-SwD)

Wisconsin Alternate Assessment for Students with Disabilities (WAA-SwD) is a standards-based alternative to WKCE at grades 3-8 and 10. The WAA-SwD is given to students with significant cognitive disabilities if the local IEP team determines that the students are unable to participate in the WKCE, even with accommodations. The IEP team will use the WAA-SwD Participation Checklist to determine whether a student will particpate in the WKCE, the WKCE with accommodations from the Assessment Accommodations Matrix, or the WAA-SwD.

The WAA-SwD is a performance task assessment in reading and mathematics for grades 3-8 and 10, and science for grades 4, 8, and 10. The assessment is linked to Wisconsin's Model Academic Standards through the Wisconsin Extended Grade Band Standards which were created by educators and approved by the State Superintendent in 2007.

The WAA-SwD yields results separately in reading, mathematics, and science. It is designed and implemented in a manner that supports the use of the results as an indicator of Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP).

Including Students with Special Needs in State Assessments - The purpose of this document is to provide guidelines for facilitating the participation of students with special needs in WSAS assessments (WKCE and WAA-SwD). As such, this document is intended to update and replace previously published DPI guidelines regarding the participation of students with special needs in the WSAS. Although the rationale for participating in WSAS assessments is the same for all students with special needs, there are different laws which affect participation decisions for each group.

• WAA-SwD Student/Parent Pre-Test Brochure
• WAA-SwD Student/Parent Pre-Test Brochure - Spanish Version
• WAA-SwD Scale Scores

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Training and Training Materials for WAA-SwD Administration:

• PowerPoint Presentation with Speaker Notes
• Sample Items for Reading, Mathematics, and Science
  • Sample Teacher Items
  • Sample Student Items
• Manipulatives Guide
• Mediasite Presentation-WAA-SwD Test Administration Training of Trainers
• Test Administration Manual for the WAA-SwD (2007-08 Version)
• Supplement WAA-SwD Guide for District and School Assessment Coordinators (2007-08 Version)
• Administration Guide and Rating Scales for Social Studies and Language Arts/Writing
  • Rating Scale - Grade 4
  • Rating Scale - Grade 8
  • Rating Scale - Grade 10

For questions about this information, contact oeamail@dpi.wi.gov

Last updated on 8/11/2008 7:53:47 AM