Alt ELPA
Our new Alternative English Language Proficiency Assessment (Alt ELPA) 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.
Alt ELPA Training
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 required trainings are titled CAAELP Modules: Alt ELPA Test Coordinator Training (2022-2023) and CAAELP Modules: Alt ELPA Administrator Training (2022-2023). In addition, new modules are available to help support your administration. Please look for Alt ELPA TDS Overview, Appeals Process, and Participation Reports.
Alt ELPA Accommodations
Available accommodations for Alt ELPA are different than those for MSAA. Please refer to the Alt ELPA Accommodations Manual for information on specific accommodations and universal features for each domain. If needed accommodations are not yet documented in the IEP, please have the IEP team complete an addendum.
Alt ELPA Administration
The Alt ELPA is administered through TIDE in the Cambium portal. The portal has additional resources, including user guides and technology requirements for the assessment.
Additionally, please note that 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.
MSAA
MSAA is administered in Grades 3-8 and 11 for ELA and Mathematics and Grades 5, 8, and 11 for Science. Students eligible for MSAA do not participate in AASA, AzSCI, ACT Aspire, or ACT. The MSAA administration window is March 13 - April 28, 2023.
MSAA Training
The MSAA system will open for training February 28, 2023. Test Coordinator and Test Administrator accounts will be created no later than February 27, 2023. Test Coordinators may add any additional test administrator accounts directly in the MSAA system. Please refer to the MSAA User Guide for Test Coordinators for instructions.
MSAA Accommodations
Please ensure that the appropriate instructional and test accommodations are included as you conduct the IEP meetings. MSAA allows five accommodations: sigh language, scribe, assistive technology, paper test, and Braille (cards for foundational reading in Grades 3 and 4 only). More information on accommodations for alternate assessments can be found in the MSAA Accommodations Manual.
MSAA Administration
The MSAA is administered in the MSAA system. Accounts will be created no later than February 26, 2023. On February 27, 2023, users will have access to training modules, student lists, and secure test materials. The MSAA test administration window is March 13 - April 28, 2023.
Adding Students
According to eligibility criteria, IEP teams determine eligibility for alternate assessments no later than November 30 to allow for suitable instructional time before test administration. If a student was determined eligible for alternate assessments but was not identified in the Student Selector Application, please refer to these instructions.
- If a student transfers, you can send us a list of SSIDs only and we will add the student to the testing platforms. Student records must be updated in AzEDS before the student can be added to testing platforms. Please conform your student records on your SPED72 report before contacting the Alternate Assessment Team.
- For students who have been enrolled in the district all 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 3 - November 30, 2022. 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 student list. Teachers should not be responsible for writing or submitting this letter to the District Test Coordinator or the State. This task is the role of the District Test Coordinator. Letters should be emailed to the Alternate Assessment Unit at AlternateAssessment@azed.gov.
Observations
ADE works with contractors to conduct MSAA administration observations. Additionally, the Assessment Unit will conduct observations for both Alt ELPA and MSAA. You will be notified by the Alternate Assessment unit if your LEA was selected for observation. These observations are required.
District Test Coordinators must also observe at least one MSAA administration and submit the responses using the Google form.
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 of 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 alternative 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 disproportionality, if applicable.
Monitoring for the 1% Threshold will look differently this year. When we finish the calculations, we will send one notification with instructions to complete the Action Plan. You will not need to submit any student data. We are federally required to collect your justifications and address disproportionality annually. Next year, we will revert back to our regular monitoring plan.
More Resources
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. The 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.
TIES Center also has some great resources on instruction, information for parents, and communication and behavior supports. 
