Alt ELPA
Our new Alternative English Language Proficiency Assessment for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities will be operationally field tested this year. If an EL student is eligible to participate in Alt ELPA they will not participate in AZELLA Reassessment. This assessment will determine EL services or if a student is proficient in the English language acquisition skills based on Alternate Achievement Standards. The test administration window is February 1 - March 17, 2023. You can find more information in the training modules, Test Administration Manual in the Cambium portal, and the Alt ELPA presentation.
Eligibility
IEP teams determine eligibility for alternate assessments, not for a specific assessment. Therefore, eligibility determination is the same for Alt ELPA and MSAA. IEP teams should consider test administration that will occur during the student's IEP year and include suitable instructional time before test administration windows if a student's eligibility has changed. For example, an IEP team that determines eligibility before the close of the Student Selector Application in the Fall shall carefully consider the instructional time prior to test administration before determining if the student will participate in an Alternate Assessment for that same year (see Participation Guidelines and Eligibility requirements).
An IEP team making the determination in the Spring should be documenting the preparation for the assessment during the following school year. Students must be identified during the Student Selection window (October 3 - November 30, 2022) to participate in the administration of the MSAA. To add students to the alternate assessment systems after the Student Selector Application closes, the Alternate Assessment Test Coordinator must submit a letter signed by the Alternate Assessment Test Coordinator and the test coordinator's supervisor. The letter will include a list of students' SSIDs and an explanation for missing the students in the selection process. 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. It is the responsibility of the test coordinator to write the letter. Please notify your teachers early so that they are prepared to give you their list of eligible students.
To meet criteria for alternate assessments, the student must meet all participation criteria descriptors. IEP teams should discuss evidence that supports each criterion in this order:
1. The student has a significant cognitive disability
2. The student is learning content linked to (derived from) state content standards
3. The student requires extensive direct individualized instruction and substantial supports to achieve measurable gains in the grade-and-age-appropriate curriculum.
NOTE: The Alternate Assessments Eligibility Form was updated May 2022 to include information on Alt ELPA. This updated form is required for IEP meetings when alternate assessment eligibility is discussed. The eligibility criteria have not changed. IEP teams do not need to amend the IEP for students who were already determined eligible using the previous form; however, parents must be notified if a student is taking Alt ELPA this year. More information is available in the Determining Eligibility for Alternate Assessments webinar.
The Student Selector Application
The Student Selector Application in ADEConnect will be available October 3 - November 30, 2022 for identifying students for alternate assessments this school year. The IEP team must determine eligibility for alternate assessment before the close of the Student Selector Application to allow for suitable instructional time before administration. Only the Alternate Assessment Test Coordinator (TCs) can identify the eligible students for alternate assessments in the application. There is one list for both MSAA and Alt ELPA.
- Students are identified by the District of Attendance (DOA). The District of Residence (DOR) must ensure records are updated to reflect attendance and sped program at the DOA. This will allow the DOA to identify students in the application.
- Although the District of Attendance (DOA) registers the students in the Student Selector Application, the TC at the District of Residence (DOR) must communicate with the DOA to ensure that the student lists are correct.
- A test administrator must be assigned to the student for the selection to be saved in the application. This will populate the list of test administrators for upload into the MSAA system.
- The list of students in the application is taken from AzEDS - if a student is not listed, your data manager will need to update the student records in your LEA's student information system and sync with AzEDS. You can verify students by checking your SPED72 report.
- Braille is available in MSAA for items that assess ELA Foundational reading standards (grades 3- 4) only. TCs must identify any students in grades 3 and 4 who are learning foundational Braille. This is not a Braille test.
There are currently over 2100 students registered in the Student Selector Application. Please continue to identify your students in the application no later than November 30.
Students who are eligible for alternate assessments will also be uploaded in PearsonAccessNext (PAN) for all Statewide Assessments, including AZELLA. Students eligible for any alternate assessment (MSAA or Alt ELPA) should remain untested in the PAN system. The Alternate Assessment Test Coordinator must communicate with the AZELLA and Achievement Test Coordinators to ensure students are administered the correct assessment.
Test Administration Lists
Alternate Assessment Test Coordinators will use the Alternate Assessment Application in ADEConnect to create test administrator lists. Please add all test administrators to each school using the "Test Administrator List" in the "Administration" dropdown. Select the school and add the first and last name and e-mail address.
Accommodations
Please ensure that the appropriate instructional and testing accommodations are included as you conduct the IEP meetings (scribe, paper versions, etc.) Note: A paper version/administration of the MSAA is an accommodation and must be documented in the student's IEP. More information on accommodations for alternate assessments can be found in the MSAA Accommodations Manual and Alt ELPA Accommodations Manual posted on our website.
Alternate Assessment Test Administration Trainings
The Alt ELPA training is now available in the LMS. Instructions for setting up accounts in the LMS were sent to Alternate Assessment Test Coordinators in September. Please let us know if you need them sent again.
The MSAA system is closed until February. Test Coordinators and Test Administrators will receive log in credentials no later than February 26, 2023. MSAA training modules for both Test Coordinators (TCs) and Test Administrators (TAs) will be available starting February 27. More information will be shared with Alternate Assessment Test Coordinators in February.
1% Threshold and Action Plans
We are calculating the participation rates for alternate assessment. Notifications for LEAs that exceeded 1% participation in the Spring 2022 administration will be sent soon. We want to thank all our Alternate Assessment Test Coordinators and IEP teams for their efforts in following the eligibility criteria to make assessment decisions for your students.
ADE must take additional steps to support and provide appropriate oversight to each LEA that assessed more than 1% of its assessed students in a given subject in a school year using an alternate assessment aligned with alternate academic achievement standards. This means that we will continue our monitoring through the 1% Threshold Application and submission of Action Plans.
Two notifications will be sent to Alternate Assessment Test Coordinators if the LEA exceeded the 1% Threshold. The first notification will include the LEA percentage in each content area and instructions for Alternate Assessment Test Coordinators to provide student information in the 1% Threshold application. Upon review of the student information, each LEA will be placed into a tier level of support. A second notification will be sent with instructions on submitting an Action Plan based on the tier level and addressing disproportionately if applicable.
MSAA States Website
Please continue to use the MSAA States Website to access resources for families, educators, and students. Resources range from writing rubrics, sample items, Core Content Connectors, the Learning Progression Frameworks, and more. This website contains information for all states that participate in the consortium. Please do not use the website to contact the Alternate Assessment Unit as the communication is not directly sent to the Alternate Assessment Team. 
