PAWS ALT
(Proficiency Assessments for Wyoming Students–Alternate)

Wyoming’s alternate assessment, Proficiency Assessments for Wyoming Students–Alternate (PAWS–ALT), is designed for a small number of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. It's part of a statewide instructionally supportive assessment system which complies with the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act of 2001 (NCLB) and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA).

Wyoming has rigorous academic standards for all students. The Wyoming Department of Education believes that the results of the PAWS-ALT, along with other measures of student performance, will enable teachers to provide individualized academic instruction to enable students to achieve high standards of academic performance and improve instructional programs. A student's participation in the PAWS-ALT is appropriate when the Individualized Education Program Team has determined that the student's academic achievement is best measured by Alternate Academic Achievement Standards, consistent with Wyoming's participation requirements.


About the Program

The PAWS-ALT is administered to students in grades 3 – 8 & 11 in reading, and mathematics and to students in grades 4, 8, & 11 in science. The PAWS–ALT is comprised of the Student Performance Events (SPE), through which students demonstrate their mastery of grade-level-aligned extended Wyoming Academic Content Standards and Academic Benchmarks.

The grade-level, extended Wyoming Academic Content Standards and Academic Benchmarks specify essential learning for all students who participate in the PAWS–ALT. The extended Academic Benchmarks, though reduced in breadth, depth and complexity, are linked to the Wyoming Content and Performance Standards and define the knowledge and skills, which students are expected to master at appropriate levels of challenge. Teachers ensure access to the general academic curriculum through teaching and learning opportunities aligned to the extended Academic Benchmarks. Teachers employ a wide range of instructional strategies as determined by a student’s individual learning characteristics and communication modes and levels, and through the use of adapted, grade-level appropriate materials.
2013 PAWS-ALT Administration Documents

2013 PAWS-ALT Administration Documents Coming Soon!
Resources
 

General Resources