Alternate Assessments DTCs
Alternate Assessments
The Alternate Assessment District Test Coordinator is responsible for the MSAA Alternate Assessments and AIMS A Science.
The State’s Alternate Assessments (AIMS A Science and MSAA ELA and Mathematics) were designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities in Grades 3-8 and high school. Students must meet the eligibility requirements as determined by the student’s IEP team in order to participate in the State’s Alternate Assessments.
MSAA ELA & Mathematics - Grades 3-8 and 11
- Test Window: March 15 through April 30, 2021
MSAA Science Field Test - Grades 5, 8, and 11
- Test Window: March 15 through April 30, 2021
We will only be administering field tests (MSAA Science Alternate Assessment) in grades 5, 8, and 11 in the spring of 2021. This decision will enable LEAs to focus on teaching the new 2018 Science Standards.
2021 Assessment Administration Guidance
The Assessment Unit has developed these guidance documents to help you prepare for in-person testing.
- Statewide Assessment Creative Solutions for Test Administration
- Alternate Assessment Test Administration Guidance
Test Coordinator Handbook SY2020-2021
UPDATES
Important Updates Alt Assessments (Sept 20) AIMS A Sc Reporting Portal and Updates (Sept 20) MSAA Testing Window Opens March 16 (March-20) ALERT Alternate Assessment Update-Student Selector Application (Oct-19) Instructions -Student Selector Application 2019 (Oct-19) ALERT MSAA Reporting 2019 (Sept-2019) 1% Cap (Threshold) Action Plan Template 2019(Jan-19) 1% Cap Action Plan Notification Delay (Jan-2019) Alternate Assessment Updates-Director's Institute 2019
Online Training
March 2021
- MSAA training modules for both TCs and TAs (Available March 2021)
Please contact us at (602) 542-8239 or at [email protected] if you have any questions.
2020-2021 Test Security Agreements
- 2020-2021 Assessment Test Security Agreement District Test Coordinator
- 2020-2021 Alternate Assessment Test Security Agreement for Test Administrator - -Do not return to ADE. keep the signed form(s) at district office for 6 years.
Observation/Eligibility Forms MSAA - 2021
- MSAA Observation Form-AZ 2020
- Google form to document MSAA Observation Responses- AZ 2020
- Alternate Assessment Eligibility Form-Rev Sept 2020
Manuals 2020-2021
- LEA Students Results Layout MSAA 2019
- MSAA 2019 Guide for Score Report Interpretation
- The MSAA Parent Overview Booklets (English and Spanish versions) are located on the tab labeled Parents and Students
MSAA Reports:
MSAA 2019 Student Results Reports sent to districts - September 2019
- MSAA 2016-2017 Student Results Layout
- CSV Tip Sheet - MSAA 2017
- 2017 MSAA Guide for Score Report Interpretation
Performance Level Descriptors - MSAA (ELA and Mathematics)
- 2017 Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs) ELA
- 2017 Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs) ELA--SPANISH
- 2017 Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs) Mathematics
- 2017 Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs) Mathematics--SPANISH
PRESENTATIONS
- What About Those Dual Labeled Students -- OELAS Conference 2019
- Academic Instruction Students with Cognitive Disabilities --Teachers Institute 2019
- Instructional Supports and Resources-PowerPoint --Click for Recorded Webinar
Presentations - 2019 Webinars
- 1% Threshold Action Plans -- 11/18/2019 Webinar
- Arizona’s Learner Characteristics Inventory - 11/12/2019 Webinar
- Alt Assessment Test Coordinator Role & Responsibilities -- 11/08/2019 Webinar
- Eligibility Determination for Alternate Assessment -- 10/31/2019 Webinar
Please contact us at (602) 542-8239 or at [email protected] if you have any questions.
The MSAA Practice Site was developed as a way to become familiar with the MSAA sample items and Assessment experience.
The MSAA Practice Site does not require a user name or password.
IEP Teams must remember to address assessment eligibility and accommodations for both alternate assessments, AIMS A Science and MSAA (NCSC) Math and ELA.
–MSAA (Math and ELA) assesses eligible students grades 3–8 and grade 11.
–AIMS A (Science) We will only be administering field tests (MSAA Science Alternate Assessment) in grades 5, 8, and 11 in the spring of 2021.
Specific accommodations for both instruction and the assessments also should be considered in the student’s annual IEP. Information regarding MSAA (NCSC) accommodations and eligibility criteria can be located on the ADE MSAA (NCSC) webpage under General Information.
- Alternate Assessment Eligibility Criteria-Rev Sept 2020 (MSAA ELA and MSAA Science)
- LCI (Learner Characteristics Inventory) for Alternate Assessments Based on Alternate Academic Achievement Standards
- 2016 MSAA Participation Guidance Rev 8-03-16 Arizona
ACTION PLANS – 1% Threshold -
- 11/18/2019 1% Threshold Action Plans 2019 Presentation--Click for Recorded Webinar
- 1% Justification per District-School Year 2017-2018
- Action Plan 1% Cap (Threshold) Template 2019
- Notification Delay-Action Plan 1% Cap (Threshold)
- Audio: Recorded 1% Cap (Threshold) Webinar
- PowerPoint Presentation - Webinar
JOIN US LIVE! The Scheduled Webinars:
The are no live webinars on schedule at this time, check later.
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Past Webinar Recordings and PowerPoint Presentations:
- 11/18/2019 1% Threshold Action Plans 2019 Presentation--Click for Recorded Webinar
- 11/12/2019 Arizona’s Learner Characteristics Inventory Presentation--Click for Recorded Webinar
- 11/08/2019 Alternate Assessment Test Coordinator Responsibilities Presentation--Click for Recorded Webinar
- 10/31/2019 Determining Eligibility for Alternate Assessments Presentation--Click for Recorded Webinar
- --11/26/2019 SCORE REPORTS - Recorded Webinar will be posted soon
- Instructional Supports and Resources-PowerPoint --Click for Recorded Webinar
Contact Information
Please contact us by emailing the Alternate Assessment inbox [email protected] or at (602) 542-8239.
Bethany Spangenberg Director of Alternate Assessment [email protected] (602) 542-4061
