Participation Guidelines for Alaska Students in State Assessments ...

ALASKA ALTERNATE ASSESSMENT
Non-Diploma Track Students
Alaska Alternate Assessment
based on Alternate Achievement Standards (AA-AAS)
for Non-Diploma Track Students
Students with significant cognitive disabilities will have access to, participate
in, and make progress in the general education curricula in compliance with
the requirements of the federal Individuals with Disabilities Act (IDEA). All
students must participate in statewide academic assessments in compliance
with the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA). If students meet
the criteria in the following guidelines, they will take an alternate assessment.
It is expected that only a small number (less than two percent) of all students
will participate in an alternate assessment.
Students taking the Alaska Alternate Assessment are not eligible to receive a
high school diploma but may be awarded a certificate of achievement if all
other state and local graduation requirements are met. The Alaska Alternate
Assessment assesses students with significant cognitive disabilities in grades
3 through 10 in the content areas of reading, writing, and mathematics. Students
in grades 4, 8, and 10 will also take the science alternate assessment.
After grade 10, students are not assessed on the Standards Based Assessment
or the Alternate Assessment.
The Alaska Alternate Assessment is based on content standards called Extended
Grade Level Expectations (ExGLEs) and alternate achievement standards
(cut scores and descriptors) that are reduced in complexity and breadth and
reflect a different set of academic expectations for students with significant
cognitive disabilities. The ExGLEs and proficiency level descriptors are located
at the department website: www.eed.alaska.gov/tls/Assessment/alternate.html.
Only trained and certified district personnel may administer the Alaska Alternate
Assessment. Districts must ensure they have an alternate assessment
mentor prepared to train assessors. Contact the Alternate Assessment Program
Manager for information on the mentor program.
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