What is an alternate assessment based on alternate academic content standards?
An alternate achievement standard is an expectation of performance that differs in complexity from a grade-level achievement standard. The availability of this type of assessment has been established for a very small percentage of students with disabilities who cannot participate in the state’s assessment program even with accommodations. The NCLB federal regulations regarding alternate assessments based on alternate standards specify that such an assessment option is intended for students “whose cognitive impairments may prevent them from attaining grade-level achievement standards, even with the very best instruction.” Those regulations also set a limit on the number of proficient and advanced scores on this type of assessment that can be used to calculate a school district’s “adequate yearly progress.” That limitation is designed to restrict this assessment option to a very small group of students with significant cognitive disabilities.
