Wyoming’s Alternate Assessment (WY-ALT), for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, is aligned to the Wyoming Extended Standards for English language arts (ELA), mathematics, and science. Approximately 1% of students participate in the WY-ALT.
WY-TOPP measures student performance on the Wyoming Extended Standards. You can find the blueprints that indicate which standards make up each part of the assessment for each content area below.
The public is invited to experience a training test at wyoassessment.org, in the Students and Families section. The ELA and Math training tests contain assessment item types for grades 3–10. The ELA tests for grades 3, 6, and 9 also include sample listening questions. The Science training tests contain assessment items in each grade band (elementary, middle school, and high school). These training tests are designed to allow students to practice with the assessment platform and digital tools before the summative test.
2025-26 1% Participation Waiver Request for ELA, Math, and Science
Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA), addresses students participating in alternate assessments aligned with alternate academic achievement standards (AA-AAAS) of the statewide assessment system. Each state must submit a waiver request to the U.S. Department of Education if it predicts exceeding 1% participation in the AA-AAAS in any subject.
After reviewing the 2024-25 assessment participation data, the Wyoming Department of Education (WDE) has determined that participation in WY-ALT ELA and Math in grades 3-10 and WY-ALT Science in grades 4, 8, and 10 may be slightly over 1% of the total number of students assessed in that subject area for the 2025-26 school year. Pursuant to Code of Federal Regulations, Title 34 (34 CFR), Section 200.6(c)(4), the WDE is requesting a federal waiver for exceeding the 1% threshold on AA-AAAS participation in the WY-ALT ELA, Math, and Science.
1% Threshold Information
The 1.0% Threshold relates to the federal accountability requirement that all students be included in state assessments. In the past (the 2003 Elementary and Secondary Education Act), the 1% was a “cap” on the number of children participating in alternate assessments who could be included in proficiency scores for accountability of all students assessed. Presently (since the 2015 Every Student Succeeds Act), the 1% represents a threshold for participation in AA-AAAS at 1% of the total tested student population. It is not meant that IEP teams should not provide students with alternate assessments when appropriate, because they are concerned about going over the 1% threshold. Student needs always come first. The federal establishment of the 1% threshold is consistent with research showing that some students assigned to the alternate assessment more appropriately should have been assessed with the general assessment in which all other students participated. States monitor the 1% participation rate, and districts may exceed the 1% threshold should they have more students designated as SMSCD taking the alternate assessment. If that happens, states must submit a waiver for going over the 1% in any of the assessed subject areas.
Each year, the WDE reviews districts’ participation in the WY-ALT and requests justifications from each LEA that anticipates being over the 1% threshold. Click here for a list of districts that were over the participation threshold.
District justifications for exceeding the 1.0 percent participation threshold are publicly available by submitting a public information request to Linda Finnerty at linda.finnerty@wyo.gov or mailing the request to 122 W. 25th St, Ste E200, Cheyenne, WY 82002.
