Washoe Country School District
Change Font Size
NASAA Training
The Nevada Alternate Scales of Academic Achievement (NASAA) is a statewide assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities. Less than 1% of students in the state meet the strict criteria required in order to be assessed with the NASAA. The NASAA assesses student performance on academic subjects through direct observation of specific task by the classroom teacher. Each task is an indication of a specific academic skill which has been linked to the same grade level content learned by all the student in the state. These observations are stored in an electronic portfolio to document the student's overall progress in learning and to determine the student's performance according to alternate achievement standards. The performance portfolio is maintained by the classroom teacher, using a specialized software program call Measured Progress ProFile.
In accord with the state and federal requirements, all students must participate in the Nevada Proficiency Examination Program. The students who are assessed using the NASAA are also provided specialized instruction and other services as individuals with disabilities, consistent with state statutes and the Individuals with Disabilities Educations Act (IDEA), a federal law. Also, the No Child Left Behind Act of 2002 (a federal law that sets high standards of achievement for schools, school districts and states) requires that a determination of proficiency be made for all students, based on achievement in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. Proficiency for Science must be determined beginning in 2006
