Wisconsin Alternative Assessment for Special Education Students 

The Wisconsin Alternative Assessment for Students with Disabilities (WAA) has been substantially changed this school year:

• The WAA testing must be completed during January.
• Special education teachers are required to individually administer three areas of the WAA - reading, math, and science - to each student, in an appropriate testing environment.
• It is expected that each area of testing will require 1 hour - an estimated total of 3 hours per student.
• For language arts and social studies, teachers are required to complete a rating scale checklist. The time needed to complete both checklists is estimated to be a total of 30 minutes. Teachers are not required to attach evidence to these checklists.

3.5 Hours of Class Coverage for Each Student

MTEA and the MPS administration agreed to the following guidelines for administering the WAA during January of 2008:

• Principals should arrange for 3.5 hours of class coverage per student for teachers who must complete WAA testing.
• The amount of time to complete the checklists and testing is an estimate. If there are unusual circumstances requiring more time, the teacher should inform the principal so that the additional coverage time is arranged.
• The memorandum of understanding (MOU) which MTEA negotiated with MPS to give teachers released time and pay for WAA "second-raters" does not apply to the new WAA process.
• MTEA and MPS representatives will meet after this year’s WAA testing is completed to review how the new procedures were implemented and make plans to address any problems.

Act Now to Meet the January 31 Deadline

If you have students who need to be tested with the new WAA, let your principal know the amount of time you estimate is needed - using 3.5 hours per student as a guideline.

Your class coverage time should be arranged to fit your plans for administering the tests to each student.

For example, most students who need WAA testing will not be able to handle 3 continuous hours. You’ll need to schedule the times based on each student’s ability to complete each test.

Class Coverage Concerns
If you encounter problems working out the class coverage you need with your principal, please contact Nancy Costello of the MTEA staff at costellon@mtea.weac.org or 259-1990.

Inservice Video: Know Your Rights

The state has developed a new version of the Wisconsin Alternative Assessment (WAA), and DPI has a training video on its Web site. The new WAA tests will be given to qualifying students during the testing window, January 7-31.

The November 9 issue of the MPS School Administrators' Bulletin states: "All MPS special education teachers who administer the WAA are required to view this video." This directive is causing confusion.

Clarification on Mandatory vs. Voluntary

MPS may mandate inservice training only if it is scheduled during the regular teacher day. This does not mean during your lunch or prep. Unless your school releases you from responsibilities during your teaching day, this training is voluntary and paid.

We recommend that you ask your principal to release you for 2 hours to view the video online. If your principal does not arrange for your released time, you are not required to view the video on your own time.

If you wish to volunteer to watch the DPI video on your own time, you should notify the principal of your intent and request that you receive 2 hours of pay at the part-time rate ($24.33 x 2 = $48.66).

Class Coverage Concerns

If you encounter problems working out the class coverage you need with your principal, please contact Nancy Costello of the MTEA staff at 414-259-1990.