What is the connection between the IEP and the Alternate Assessment?
According to IDEA’97 and NCLB, the IEP must address the student’s progress in the general curriculum. IEP goals and objectives that deal with student performance in reading and math must be aligned with district standards and the core content standards and benchmarks corresponding to the Iowa Tests and used in the alternate assessment. Other IEP goals such as communication, social, or motor skills may be considered access skills, but will be coded as either reading or math goals as appropriate. The IEP goals will be linked through activities, settings, and materials to content area instruction and standards. Some students may have goals and objectives on their IEPs that are not standards-referenced (e.g., self-care skills) and these would not be the focus of the assessment nor would they be included within the portfolio assessment evidence even though they are important goals.
