Per the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) (34 CFR § 200.6 (c)(3)), a district is required to submit assurances and justification when it anticipates exceeding 1% percent of students assessed in a subject with the alternate assessment. This survey will help districts anticipate if more than 1% of assessed students will be using the WY-ALT during the 2024-25 school year. Districts must complete the survey, including the descriptions and supporting evidence, by January 31, 2025. The submission of the survey and supporting evidence will also serve as justification that meets ESSA requirements.
States that anticipate they will exceed 1% are required to request a federal waiver and verify that each district exceeding the 1% threshold has followed the state’s guidelines for participation in the alternate assessment.
Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) of 1965, as amended by the ESSA, addresses students participating in alternate assessments aligned with alternate academic achievement standards (AA-AAAS) of the statewide assessment system. In Wyoming, the AA-AAAS are the Extended Standards. ESEA section 1111(b)(2)(D)(i)(I) limits the total number of students with the most significant cognitive disabilities assessed on the AA-AAAS to 1%.
When considering the WY-ALT assessment as appropriate for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities (SMSCD), IEP teams should consult the updated Wyoming Alternate Assessment Participation Guidance and guidance video. Use of the Wyoming Extended Standards should also be a priority for students considered for the WY-ALT assessment.
For more information, contact Becca Velikaneye, Assessment Consultant, at rebecca.velikaneye@wyo.gov or 307-777-6804.
