MSAA (Multi-State Alternate Assessment)
The Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA) is a comprehensive assessment system designed to promote increasing higher academic outcomes for students with significant cognitive disabilities in preparation for a broader array of post-secondary outcomes. The MSAA is designed to assess students with significant cognitive disability and measures academic content that is aligned to and derived from Arizona’s content standards. This test contains many built-in supports that allow students to take the test using materials they are most familiar with and communicate what they know and can do as independently as possible. The MSAA will be administered in ELA and Mathematics in Grades 3-8 and 11, and Science in Grades 5, 8, and 11.
In 2010, an assessment was developed through the research and development done by the National Center and State Collaborative (NCSC) and will be carried forward by the MSAA State Partners. MSAA is currently administered by American Samoa, Arizona, the District of Columbia, Maine, Vermont, the Mariana Islands (Guam and the Commonwealth of Northern Mariana Islands), South Dakota, the U.S. Virgin Islands, and BIE.
For more information, please visit the MSAA States website.
Alternate Assessment District Test Coordinator Handbook 2025-26
Testing Dates and Information
MSAA Spring 2026 Testing Window March 9– April 24, 2026
- MSAA ELA & Mathematics - Grades 3-8 and 11
- MSAA Science - Grades 5, 8, and 11
Eligibility and State Specific Guidance
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Alternate Assessment Eligibility Form 2025-2026 (MSAA ELA, Math, and Science) & (Alt ELPA Summative)
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Arizona State Specific Policy for Alternate Assessment 2025-2026 (rev. Feb 2026)
Resources
The following documents were developed within the NCSC project and offer Arizona Educators ideas, support, and resources to provide instruction based on the Standards to students with significant cognitive disabilities.
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Academic Instruction Students with Cognitive Disabilities Presentation - 2019 Teachers Institute- Participants learn how to teach functional skills and academic content concurrently and develop an academic lesson that incorporates functional skills.
Performance Level Descriptors - MSAA (ELA, Mathematics, AND Science)
WRITING Scoring Rubrics
NCSC Instructional Resources & Supports (Binders)
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How to Teach State Standards to Students Who Take the Alt. Assessment 03-06-17 Updated Links
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How to Teach State Standards to Students who Take the Alt Assessment Podcast Audio File
ELA
Mathematics
Teacher binder for Mathematics – Click on the Math link NCSC Instructional Resources for Mathematics, and copy the following pages: 19-43 (Instructional Resources Guide); 98-111 (Graduated Understandings/Instructional Families); and 116-147 (Element Cards)
For both ELA and Mathematics, print the Graduated Understandings/Instructional Families and Element Cards in color since color bands are used.
Reporting
MSAA Reports
The MSAA Score Reports from the Spring 2026 administration for Science, Math, and ELA will be available for Alternate Assessment District Test Coordinators (TCs) July 13 - September 18, 2026. Reports will be accessed through the MSAA Reporting Portal Tab in the MSAA System. The ADE Alternate Assessment Unit will ship two hard copies of each student report to the District of Attendance (DOA) the week after the reporting portal opens. One copy is sent home to parents/guardians and the other is placed in the student’s secure file. The MSAA Parent Guides accompany the student reports and should be sent home with the student. Teachers may download additional MSAA Parent Guides from the ADE Assessment website on the tab labeled "MSAA Parents Resources".
- Reports are accessed through the MSAA Reporting Portal Tab in the MSAA System.
- Returning DTCs will log in with the same credentials used during administration. Use the reset password option if needed. New TCs will have an account generated the first week of the reporting portal. Use the link in the auto-generated e-mail to log in.
- Go to the “Reports” tab on the top menu bar.
- Download your reports and save per district policy.
The following reports will be available to download through the MSAA Reporting Portal:
Reports for the District—District Summary Reports, District Roster Reports, and Student Results File CSV.
Reports for the School—School Summary Reports, School Roster Reports, Individual Student Reports, and Student Results File CSV.
The 2026 MSAA Guide for Score Report Interpretation provides guidance on reading and using the reports. The MSAA User Guide for Test Coordinators will be available on the MSAA platform when reports become available. This guide includes detailed instructions for downloading your reports. Look for the link on the bottom left corner of the MSAA system home page.
Observations
Observation Forms
MSAA Training for District Test Coordinators (DTC) and Test Administrators (TA)
Presentations
Contact Information
Please contact us by emailing the Alternate Assessment inbox A[email protected] or at (602) 542-8239.