West Virginia Alternate Summative Assessment Parent Guide

The West Virginia Alternate Summative Assessment (WVASA) is designed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The WVASA produces assessable results for students that cannot be obtained through the West Virginia General Summative Assessment.

Important Information

Students taking the WVASA will be assigned the appropriate grade level. This decision is based on Policy 2520.16, West Virginia Alternate Academic Achievement Standards. Students will have access to grade level content standards and the chance to pursue a general diploma until age 21.

The WVASA showcases a student's efforts, achievement, and progress on instructional activities. These activities are aligned with Policy 2520.16. This includes descriptions of what students should know and be able to do at each grade level in a specific content area. The WVASA is administered to students individually and measures performance in:

• English language arts
  • Grades 3-8 and 11
• Mathematics
  • Grades 3-8 and 11
• Science
  • Grades 5-8 and 11

Frequent Questions

How Does Participating in Statewide Assessments Benefit My Student? 

Assessments provide important information about progress and achievement. Assessment results help the Individualized Education Program (IEP) team plan the best instruction to meet your student’s specific educational needs. 

Who Determines How My Student Will be Assessed? 

Your student’s IEP team makes decisions about assessment. You and the other IEP team members follow state guidelines to decide how your student participates in statewide assessments. 

Will I Receive My Student’s Assessment Results? 

Yes, you will receive an individual student report that shows your student’s achievement level in each content area.

Dynamic Learning Maps™

West Virginia is a member of the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) Consortium. The assessments are online and are linked to Policy 2520.16. 

All students participate in state accountability assessments. The Dynamic Learning Maps™ Alternate Assessment System (DLM™) is an instructionally relevant system that supports student learning and measures what students with the most significant cognitive disabilities know and can do.

Your student does not need to prepare in any way for the assessment. Assessments are delivered in testlets with each testlet containing 3 to 8 questions. Students receive between 5 and 7 testlets, depending on the grade and subject. The assessment is administered in a oneon-one setting. The assessment is designed to meet the individualized needs of each student.

All times noted are estimates or ranges. Total testing time varies depending on a student’s unique learning needs. Testlets may be taken separately across multiple testing sessions as long as they are all completed within the testing window.

Total Testing Time

Testing times are below for each category:

• English language arts: 70-90 minutes
• Mathematics: 35-60 minutes
• Science: 30-60 minutes

All results are completely confidential, and you will be provided with a performance report.

For more information, please contact your student’s school or your district board office.