District-Wide Writing Assessment

Per the Elementary Promotion Policy (Board Report #07-0926-P01) adopted by the Chicago Board of Education on September 26, 2007, 8th grade students are required to demonstrate proficiency in Writing as a condition for promotion. The policy states that students must have a “C or better” report card grade in Writing for the academic year or pass a District Wide Writing Assessment (DWWA).

This policy will remain in effect in the 2011-2012 school year, despite the temporary suspension of the ISAT Writing portion.

The writing promotion criteria is designed to ensure that students are ready for the increased writing expectations in high school and have the foundation they need to write and communicate effectively in high school, college, and the workplace.

DWWA Details:

• Administered to 8 ^th Graders
• 7 ^th Graders are NOT to be tested using the DWWA
• There will NOT be a Winter Prompt administration
• Prompt Genre: Argument
• Externally Scored by Vendor (results used for promotion and returned to schools one month after administration)
• Teacher Double Scored – for the following purposes:

Additional information about the grade 8 promotion can be found at http://www.cps.edu/Spotlight/Pages/Spotlight54.aspx or by contacting your Network office.

Assessment Resources

• DWWA Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs) (Coming Soon)
• Professional Development & Quick Guide
• Webinar Link: District Wide Writing Assessment Presentation Recording
• DWWA Administration Bulletin
• 2012 DWWA Teachers Directions for Administration (Coming Soon)
• Argument Writing Rubric - includes the Process trait
• Crosswalk: DWWA Persuasive Rubric vs. Common Core State Standards
• DWWA Scoring Guidelines
• Teacher's Guide to Group Scoring
• Peer Conferencing Guide
• Teacher's Scoring Form
• Annotated Anchor Papers (Coming Soon)
• 8th Grade Writing Recommendations
• 2009 Elementary School Promotion Policy      
• 2008-2009 Writing to Succeed: A Guide for Parents and Guardians of 8 ^th Graders