COMMONWEALTH OF VIRGINIA

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

P.O. BOX 2120

RICHMOND, VIRGINIA 23218-2120

SUPTS. MEMO NO. 49

March 29, 2002

INFORMATIONAL

TO:	Division Superintendents
FROM:	Jo Lynne DeMary Superintendent of Public Instruction
SUBJECT:	Guidelines for Participation of Students with Disabilities in Alternate Assessments

The Virginia Department of Education is required by the 1997 amendments to the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) to develop guidelines for the participation of students with disabilities in alternate assessments. The Virginia Alternate Assessment Program is designed for a small population of students who are unable to participate in the Standards of Learning assessment, even with accommodations.

Initial guidelines for participation in the alternate assessment were issued in Informational Supts. Memo No. 61, March 2000 and implemented during the 2000-2001 school year. Attached to this memo are revised participation criteria developed for use during the 2002-2003 school year. These criteria are to be used by Individualized Educational Program (IEP) teams in deciding whether students should participate in the Virginia Standards of Learning Assessment Program or the Virginia Alternate Assessment Program. IEP decisions to participate in alternate assessment must be documented on the student's IEP.

In addition to the participation criteria, a question and answer document is included to address some of the more common issues raised by school division staff. Other questions regarding the Virginia Alternate Assessment program should be directed to Mr. Nathan Sparks (mailto:nsparks@mail.vak12ed.edu), Division of Assessment and Reporting, (804) 225-3026 or Mrs. Sharon Siler (mailto:ssiler@mail.vak12ed.edu), Office of Special Education and Student Services, (804) 225-2711.

JLD/SLR/GT/jc

Attachments

/administrators/superintendents_memos/2002/inf049a.pdf

/administrators/superintendents_memos/2002/inf049b.pdf