Alternate Assessments

Alternate assessments are used to evaluate the performance of students who are unable to participate in general state assessments even with accommodations. Alternate assessments provide a mechanism for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, and for other students with disabilities who may need alternate ways to access assessments, to be included in an educational accountability system.

There currently is one type of alternate assessment:

Alternate Assessments Based on Alternate Achievement Standards (AA-AAS) for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. These assessments are based on the grade-level content covered by the general assessment, but at reduced depth, breadth, and complexity. These assessments describe achievement based on what a state determines is a high expectation for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.

In the past some states also offered Alternate Assessments Based on Grade-level Achievement Standards (AA-GLAS) or Alternate Assessment Based on Modified Academic Achievement Standards (AA-MAS).

Alternate assessments of English language proficiency (ELP) now must be developed by states for their ELs with significant cognitive disabilities.

Related Publications

NCEO Reports: Alternate Assessments for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities: Participation Guidelines and Definitions (#406)

Formats: Online, PDF

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2014-2015 APR Snapshot #15: AA-AAS Participation and Performance (#15)

Formats: Online

NCEO State Surveys: 2016 Survey of States: State Activities Amid Evolving Educational Policies

Formats: Online, PDF

NCEO Reports: 2014-15 Publicly Reported Assessment Results for Students with Disabilities and ELs with Disabilities (#405)

Formats: Online, PDF

NCEO Brief: Strategies for Meeting the 1% State-level Cap on Participation in the Alternate Assessment (#12)

Formats: Online, PDF

NCEO Reports: Providing English Language Development Services to English Learners with Disabilities: Approaches to Making Exit Decisions (NCEO Report 404)

Formats: Online, PDF

Variables Used by States in the Calculation of Annual Measureable Achievement Objectives (AMAOs) for Title III Reporting

Formats: Online, PDF

Considerations for Developing State-Defined Alternate Diplomas for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities

Formats: Online, PDF

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2013-2014 APR Snapshot #12: AA-AAS Participation and Performance (#12)

Formats: Online

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2013-2014 APR Snapshot #10: State Assessment Participation and Performance of Students Receiving Special Education Services (#10)

Formats: Online

NCEO Reports: Principios y Características de Sistemas Inclusivos de Evaluación en un Escenario de Evaluación Cambiante (#400 Spanish)

Formats: Online, PDF

White Paper on Common Accessibility Language for States and Assessment Vendors

Formats: PDF

NCEO APR Snapshot Briefs: 2011-2012 APR Snapshot #9: AA-AAS Participation and Performance (#9)

Formats: Online

NCEO Reports: 2013-14 Publicly Reported Assessment Results for Students with Disabilities and ELLs with Disabilities (#401)

Formats: Online, PDF

NCEO Reports: Principles and Characteristics of Inclusive Assessment Systems in a Changing Assessment Landscape (#400)

Formats: Online, PDF

White Paper on English Language Learners with Significant Cognitive Disabilities

Formats: PDF

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Science Alternate Assessments based on Alternate Achievement Standards (AA-AAS) During School Year 2014-2015 (#99)

Formats: Online, PDF

Forum on Implementing Accessibility Frameworks for ALL Students

Formats: PDF

Instructing and Assessing English Learners with Significant Cognitive Disabilities

Formats: PDF

NCEO State Surveys: 2014 Survey of States: Initiatives, Trends, and Accomplishments

Formats: Online, PDF

NCEO Technical Reports: 2012-13 Publicly Reported Assessment Results for Students with Disabilities and ELLs with Disabilities (#70)

Formats: Online, PDF

NCEO Data Analytics: Graduation Policies for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities Who Participate in States' AA-AAS (#1)

Formats: Online

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Graduation Policies for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities Who Participate in States' AA-AAS (#97)

Formats: Online, PDF

NCEO Synthesis Reports: States' Flexibility Waiver Plans for Alternate Assessments Based on Alternate Achievement Standards (AA-AAS) (#96)

Formats: Online, PDF

Forum on Addressing Performance Gaps of Low-performing Students: Implications for Assessment and Instruction

Formats: PDF

NCEO State Surveys: 2012 Survey of States: Successes and Challenges During a Time of Change

Formats: Online, PDF

Assessment Principles and Guidelines for ELLs with Disabilities

Formats: Online, PDF

NCEO State Surveys: 2009 Survey of States - Accomplishments and New Issues at the End of a Decade of Change

Formats: Online, PDF

NCEO Synthesis Reports: 2007 State Policies on Assessment Participation and Accommodations for Students with Disabilities (#69)

Formats: Online, PDF

NCEO State Surveys: 2005 State Special Education Outcomes - Steps Forward in a Decade of Change

Formats: Online, PDF

NCEO English Language Learners (ELLs) with Disabilities Reports: Policymaker Perspectives on the Inclusion of English Language Learners with Disabilities in Statewide Assessments (#8)

Formats: Online, PDF

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Washington Alternate Assessment System Technical Report on Standard Setting for the 2002 Portfolio (#52)

Formats: Online, PDF

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Use of Alternate Assessment Results in Reporting and Accountability Systems: Conditions for Use Based on Research and Practice (#43)

Formats: Online

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Models for Reporting the Results of Alternate Assessments Within State Accountability Systems (#39)

Formats: Online

NCEO Synthesis Reports: Students with Disabilities in Standards-Based Assessment and Accountability Systems: Emerging Issues, Strategies, and Recommendations (#37)