Educator Resources
New Resource: A Guide to Arizona's Statewide Assessments
2025-2026 Achievement Tests Staff Security Agreement
Educator Committees
Arizona's test development process involves an extensive review before an item will count toward students' test scores. During the item development process, all assessment items are written in accordance with Item Specifications. A committee of Arizona educators reviews and approves the items to confirm alignment and appropriateness for inclusion on the test. Each step in the process is designed to ensure that test results are valid, reliable, and appropriate for Arizona students, families, and other members of Arizona communities. Participating educators are representatives of Arizona's geographic regions and represent culturally diverse populations. For these committees, we are inviting content area teachers, teachers of students with disabilities, teachers of English learner students, instructional coaches, and administrators to provide their perspectives on the items and standards set on Arizona's statewide assessments. If you are interested in serving on an Assessment Educator Committee, please complete the form linked below.
AASA
Arizona's Academic Standards Assessment (AASA) is the statewide achievement test for Arizona students in Grades 3-8. All Arizona public school students in Grades 3-8 will take the grade-level AASA assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics.
English Language Arts and Math Essential Standards
AASA Test Dates
Spring 2026 Testing
Computer-Based Testing: March 30 - April 24, 2026
- Grades 3-8 Writing and Grade 3 Oral Reading Fluency must be completed by April 10, 2026
Paper-Based Testing: March 30 - April 8, 2026
- Grades 3-8 Writing must be scheduled for March 30 or March 31, 2026
- Grade 3 Oral Reading Fluency must be completed by April 10, 2026
AASA Sample Tests and Student Readiness Tool
AASA Sample Tests and Student Readiness Tool
Directions: Select Arizona, then click on "Mic Check and Sample Tests"
Scoring Guides for Sample Tests
ELA
- AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Grade 3 - Revised March 2026
- AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Grade 4 - Revised January 2026
- AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Grade 5 - Revised March 2026
- AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Grade 6 - Revised March 2026
- AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Grade 7 - Revised January 2026
- AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Grade 8 - Revised January 2026
- AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Writing Grade 3
- AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Writing Grade 4
- AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Writing Grade 5
- AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Writing Grade 6
- AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Writing Grade 7
- AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Writing Grade 8
- AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Oral Reading Fluency Grade 3 - Revised March 2026
Math
- AASA Scoring Guide - Math Grade 3 - Revised January 2026
- AASA Scoring Guide - Math Grade 4 - Revised January 2026
- AASA Scoring Guide - Math Grade 5 - Revised January 2026
- AASA Scoring Guide - Math Grade 6 - Revised January 2026
- AASA Scoring Guide - Math Grade 7 - Revised January 2026
- AASA Scoring Guide - Math Grade 8 - Revised January 2026
Grade 3 Oral Reading Fluency
The Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) test section is administered to all third-grade students.
- Recommended Seating Arrangements
- Headphone and Microphone Requirements
- Pearson Headset Recommendations
- Accessibility for Grade 3 ORF Items - updated October 2025
- ORF Frequently Asked Questions - updated November 2025
AASA Manuals
AASA Blueprints and Cut Scores
AASA Item Specifications
ELA Item Specifications
Math Item Specifications
Performance Level Descriptors
These PLDs are aligned to the 2016 English Language Arts Standards and Mathematics Standards.
ELA
Math
AASA Writing Resources
AASA Writing Resources - Descriptions
Writing Rubrics
- Grades 3-5 Informative-Explanatory Rubric
- Grades 3-5 Opinion Rubric
- Grades 6-8 Informative-Explanatory Rubric
- Grades 6-8 Argumentative Rubric
Writing Guides
- Grades 3-5 Informative-Explanatory
- Grades 3-5 Opinion
- Grade 6 Argumentative
- Grades 6-8 Informative-Explanatory
- Grades 7-8 Argumentative
Writing Rubric Guides
Annotated Writing Samples Guides
Writing Prompt Templates
Grade-level prompt templates can be found in the Item Specifications documents for each grade level.
AASA Additional ELA Resources
AASA Additional Math Resources
ACT Aspire
ACT Aspire is the statewide high school achievement test administered to Arizona public school students in Grade 9/Cohort 2029 in Spring 2026.
ACT Aspire Test Dates
Spring 2026 Testing
Computer-Based Testing: March 30 - April 24, 2026
Paper-Based Testing: March 30 - April 8, 2026
Exemplars and TestNav Tutorial
ACT Aspire Exemplars and Tutorial - login information is not required
- To access Exemplars, scroll to the bottom of the screen and select "Exemplars." Next, select the content area, followed by the Exemplar for "Early High School Grade 9 & 10."
- Online Exemplars are intended to provide students with experience navigating TestNav and interacting with the various test item formats. The online Exemplars are not meant to be scored, and a full answer key is not provided.
Exemplar Booklets - Each booklet describes reporting categories, standards, depth-of-knowledge levels, and correct responses.
ACT Aspire Manuals
Additional Resources
AZ State Standards Alignment Guide for ACT and ACT Aspire
- The ACT Aspire has been removed from ACT's Calculator Policy document, but the policy will apply to Arizona's administration of ACT Aspire for Grade 9 students.
AzSCI
AzSCI, Arizona's statewide achievement test for Science, is administered to public school students in Grade 5 (covering domains from Grades 3/4/5 standards), Grade 8 (covering domains from Grades 6/7/8 standards), and Grade 11/Cohort 2027 (covering domains from high school standards) in Spring 2026.
AzSCI Test Dates
Spring 2026 Testing
March 16 – April 10, 2026
AzSCI Sample Tests and Student Readiness Tool
AzSCI Sample Tests and Student Readiness Tool
Directions: Select Arizona, then click on "Mic Check and Sample Tests"
Scoring Guides for Sample Tests - Revised January 2026
AzSCI Manuals
AzSCI Blueprints and Cut Scores
AzSCI Blueprints - Updated March 6, 2026
AzSCI Item Specifications
AzSCI Performance Level Descriptors
AzSCI Exhibits
-
Exhibit for Grades 8 and 11
-
Exhibit for Grade 11
Additional Resources
ACT
ACT is the statewide high school achievement test administered to Arizona public school students in Grade 11/Cohort 2027 in Spring 2026.
ACT Test Dates
Spring 2026 Testing
ACT Test Window 1
- Paper (Standard): March 24, 2026
- Paper (Accommodations): March 24-27 and March 30-April 3, 2026
- Online (Standard & Accommodations): March 24-27 and March 30-April 3, 2026
ACT Test Window 2
- Paper (Standard): April 7, 2026
- Paper (Accommodations): April 7-10 and April 13-17, 2026
- Online (Standard & Accommodations): April 7-10 and April 13-17, 2026
For Spring 2026, schools may utilize both published state ACT test windows in order to assess all Cohort 2027 students. Schools are encouraged to administer the ACT during the first test window and to use the second test window, as needed, to complete any makeup testing. Schools administering ACT on paper may also use the online test dates for makeup testing. Any schools that choose to administer the ACT during only the second test window will not have an additional ACT test window to use for makeup testing.
Achievement District Test Coordinators must select the ACT test window for each school in ACT's PearsonAccessnext platform in November 2025.
ACT Enhancements
ACT Manuals
To access the ACT Test Coordinator Manual, Test Administration Manuals, and Test Administration Forms, visit the ACT-hosted website for Arizona, Step 5: Administration.
- For additional ACT accessibility resources, visit the ACT-hosted website for Arizona, Step 3: Accommodation
Additional Resources
Arizona ACT Performance Level Descriptors
ACT Cut Scores
- ACT Cut Scores - Board-approved July 2022