Locally Determined Assessments (LDA)

The use of a Locally Determined Assessment (LDA) is a CIA option for students in the class of 2015 through 2021 receiving special education services and can be used to meet the graduation pathway in Mathematics or English Language Arts (comprised of 1 reading LDA + 1 writing LDA), as determined by the student’s IEP team. Meeting standard is scoring at or above the established minimum grade equivalency (G.E.) for the prescribed test or the established passing score.

If a student is receiving services in one content area, they may be assessed for both areas. The student’s IEP team must determine the most appropriate exam for the student.

English Language Arts/Mathematics

Students have the option to apply scores from one of several approved published achievement tests that are administered in the 10th, 11th or 12th grade. OSPI has determined the required subtests in each content area and established cut scores for each subtest within a content area. Students must meet the designated Grade Equivalency (G.E.) cut score(s) in order to meet the graduation pathway associated with the content area.

Students with scores that meet standard with a Math or ELA LDA are still expected to participate in the on-grade level accountability assessment(s), with or without accommodations, to fulfill eligibility requirements before applying this assessment graduation alternative. Taking the on-grade federal accountability tests with the CIA cut score option counts as having participated in these exams.

Current achievement tests approved as LDAs for ELA and Mathematics are:

• Woodcock Johnson Achievement Test, 3rd or 4th Edition (WJAT-III or IV)
• Wechsler Individual Achievement Test, 2nd or 3rd Edition (WIAT-II or III or IV)
• Kaufman Test of Educational Achievement, 2nd or 3rd Edition (KTEA-II or III)

Required Documentation

To submit an LDA, documentation is required to verify the scores entered into the digital LDA form in Graduation Alternatives Application.

Documentation MUST clearly display the following information:

1. Student name
2. Test name
3. Date of testing
4. Exact student test score - in terms of G.E.

Graduation Pathway Eligibility

To be eligible for this Certificate of Individual Achievement (CIA) option, the student must be receiving Special Education services and their High School and Beyond Plan must indicate the LDA.

Submitting the Pathway

This graduation pathway is submitted in the Graduation Alternatives Application. To submit, the student's score must:

• Have been administered in the 10th, 11th or 12th grade.
• Meet or exceed the G.E. score for the appropriate test or exam as indicated in the document Grade Equivalency (G.E.) cut score(s)