Making Changes to Student Lists
The Student Selector Application is closed.
To add students:
- For students who transferred after the start of the school year, send an e-mail with the SSID only of the transfer students. These will be processed throughout the test administration window as needed.
- For students who have been enrolled in the district all school year, the Alternate Assessment Test Coordinator must submit a letter signed by the Alternate Assessment Test Coordinator and their supervisor. The letter will include a list of students' SSIDs and an explanation of why students were missed in the selection process, which was open from October 1 - November 30, 2021. For explanations related to a deficiency in policy or practice, include steps the LEA will take to correct the issue. An explanation stating that the IEP team did not make the determination that the student is eligible for alternate assessment before the close of the Student Selector Application, will not be accepted since this does not follow eligibility guidelines. Only one letter should be submitted after reviewing your entire student list starting March 1. Teachers should not be responsible for writing or submitting this letter to the DTC or the State. This task is the role of the DTC.
Eligible students participate in the MSAA Science (Grades 5, 8, and 11) and MSAA ELA and Math (Grades 3-8 and 11).
Making Changes to Test Administrator Lists
Test Coordinators can manage their lists of Test Administrators directly in the MSAA system. Instructions for adding a Test Administrator will be available in the User Guide for Test Coordinators. Refer to State Specific Policy on who can be a Test Administrator. Please note, user accounts cannot be deleted from the system. Please contact us if you need assistance blocking a user.
Accommodations
Please remind all teachers and IEP teams to document accommodations routinely used during instruction and assessment by students, including the need for paper-based testing.
MSAA Paper-Based Tests
Paper-Based Tests are available through the MSAA system by downloading the test. Printed tests are large print. The TA must confirm that the paper test is an approved accommodation (as per the IEP and used frequently during instruction) before downloading for printing. Once the confirmation has been indicated, the test sessions will become available to select. Refer to the MSAA Training and User Guides for information on printing by session. These testing materials must be treated as secure documents and securely shredded following administration.
Accessing MSAA Instructional Supports and Practice Site Information
Sample MSAA items can be accessed on the MSAA Website without logging in. It is recommended that teachers view the sample items throughout the year as they plan for instruction and try out the MSAA test features with their students prior to the test window opening. In addition, two best practice videos that capture writing prompt administration are posted with the sample items.
MSAA Test Administration Training
All Test Coordinators and Test Administrators who had students in the Student Selector Application will receive an email directly from the MSAA Alternate Assessment System with login information and access on February 28. Some districts and charters experience some issues with firewalls preventing the emails from the MSAA Assessment System. If you do not receive an email by February 28, 2022, please notify our office immediately. You may add test administrators as needed. The MSAA training modules will be available as soon as you log in on February 28. The required training is the same format as previous years. There are seven training modules required for test administrators, which should take approximately three hours to complete.
Test Coordinators will be responsible for completing the training modules assigned for Test Coordinators. A Test Coordinator who will also be administering the MSAA Alternate Assessment will be required to complete all the TA training modules and pass the final quiz as well. The Alternate Assessment Unit provides a professional development certificate for participation in alternate assessment trainings. Certificates will be e-mailed to the test coordinators in April.
Test Administrators will be responsible for completing all modules as well as passing a final quiz with 80% accuracy before access to the test and testing materials. There are seven training modules required for test administrators. Please plan for about three hours to complete training.
Recommendations for completing online training modules:
- Have each Test Administrator complete one module per day during the training window. This will ensure all modules are completed within the training window.
- Each Test Administrator will be required to take the final quiz individually once the final quiz window opens.
- Allow Test Administrators at the same school or schools close in proximity to complete the training modules together. Each Test Administrator will still be required to take the final quiz individually.
Testing Window
The MSAA testing window is March 14 - April 29, 2022. Please plan accordingly. All tests must be submitted by the Test Administrator by 5:00 PM (MST) on April 29. There is no final data closeout for MSAA; therefore, no further action is needed once tests are submitted. Alternate Assessment Test Coordinators must monitor test completion for all students and work with Test Administrators to ensure testing is completed. Test Coordinators can track progress directly in the MSAA system. More information will be available in the User Guide for Test Coordinators.
MSAA Testing Procedures
- It is important to ensure that all Test Administrators are aware of all MSAA policies and testing procedures and follow them properly. If these policies and test procedures are not followed properly, it could result in a student's test being invalidated.
- Test Coordinators must report all test incidents using the incident report function in the Alternate Assessment application in ADEConnect. Detailed instructions for submitting incident reports will be emailed to the Test Coordinator.
- If you have questions, please ask for clarification before a potential incident.
- Arizona's MSAA State Specific Policy provides Arizona's procedures which are not in the mandatory training or the Test Administration Manual.
Test Administration Observations
If your LEA was selected for observations by our external education consultants or by ADE staff, you will soon be receiving more information to help plan for the observations.
Test Coordinators must also complete at least one observation and submit the observation for using the online link. Please refer to the Alternate Assessment Test Coordinator Handbook for details.
1% Threshold and Action Plans
Monitoring for exceeding the 1% Threshold has been delayed. Look for more information on your LEA's percentages and instructions for completing monitoring activities soon.
Alternate Assessment Test Coordinator Handbook
The Alternate Assessment Test Coordinators can access The Alternate Assessment Handbook to use as a reference for important dates as well as instructions for each activity to be completed. 
