OSPI Building & Certification Department Limited Hours — Thursday, Aug. 20
The OSPI Building will be closed from 10 a.m.–1 p.m. The Certification Department will be closed from 8 a.m.–1 p.m.
Assessment for Students with Cognitive Disabilities (WA-AIM)
Participation Guidance
Guidance for IEP Teams: Student Participation in Statewide Assessments
Contact Information
Leslie Huff
Alternate Assessment Coordinator360-725-6338
The Washington Access to Instruction & Measurement (WA-AIM) is an alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards aligned to the Common Core State Standards for students with significant cognitive disabilities. The WA-AIM is built off of Access Point Frameworks that expand upon the mathematics and English language arts Common Core State Standards and the Washington State science standards to provide students with significant cognitive disabilities a continuum of access points to the standards. The WA-AIM will measure student knowledge and skills through the use of twice annual administered performance tasks. The WA-AIM will be used for federal and state accountability in grades 3-8 and 10 for ELA and Math and can be used to meet a student's graduation pathway requirement. Science will continue to be administered in grade 11.
Testing Window
The 2025-2026 testing window for WA-AIM will begin January 26, 2026 and end on May 1, 2026 at 5:00 pm.
1% Alternate Assessment Threshold
Information for districts regarding the 1% Alternate Assessment Threshold including federal requirements, state justification and submission requirements.
Access Points Frameworks and Performance Tasks
The Access Point Frameworks provide a high level overview of all standards accessed at the various grade levels by content area.
The Performance Tasks define standards assessed at each grade level, outline the three Access Point complexity levels for each standard, and defines the requirements and restrictions for each Access Point Level and Performance Task
WA-AIM Scoring & Reporting
This section is where stakeholders will find information regarding score generation, achievement levels and descriptors as well as templates and resource documents.
WA-AIM Trainings
Access online, on-demand modules for administration of the WA-AIM.
WA-AIM INSIGHT Portal
INSIGHT is the electronic system used for WA-AIM Administration.
Weekly WA-AIM Grab and Go
On Thursdays beginning September 3, OSPI will offer 30-minute opportunities to learn a little something about WA-AIM and check in with any questions, concerns, or issues. There will be one morning and one afternoon session. The information OSPI covers will be the same across both sessions. Anyone involved in WA-AIM testing is welcome to attend.