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The Iowa Alternate Assessment (IAA) promotes fair measurement of student knowledge on the Iowa Core Content Standards and Benchmarks. The Iowa Alternate Assessment is for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities whose academic performance is appropriately judged against alternate achievement standards. The Iowa Alternate Assessment measures student performance in Reading, Mathematics, and for some students, Science. The Iowa Alternate Assessment process involves providing information about student characteristics, teaching students academic content throughout the school year, reporting student performance and having evidence of performance on academic skills, collaborating with building administrators about the alternate assessment process and students' performance on the assessment, reporting results to parents in ways that describe what students are doing and how students have improved over time, and providing information to the Iowa Department of Education on the efficiency and effectiveness of the alternate assessment process.

Legal Requirements

The Alternate Assessment is part of the No Child Left Behind legislation and the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. The Alternate Assessment must measure student performance in Reading and Math, and for some students, Science.

Alternate Assessment State Team

Alternate Assessment State Team

Calendar of Events

September 2, 2008: IAA Process Begins
September 2 - October 31, 2008: Complete Student Profile
March 1-31, 2008: On-line data entry of rating scales
March 31, 2008: IAA process and Teacher Survey completed
April 1: Evidence Review Notification with evidence due by May 15th
Between April 1 and April 15: Assurance Form is due (Do not send before this time period)

Supporting Documents

Contacts

2008-2009 IAA Contacts

Guides  

IAA Participation Guidelines 2008-2009 IAA Participation Guidelines 2008-2009    Guidelines for Determining Alternate Assessment Participation Guidelines for Determining Alternate Assessment Participation  

IAA Parent Guide 2008-2009 IAA Parent Guide 2008-2009 

IAA Administrators Guide 2008-2009 IAA Administrators Guide 2008-2009

FAQs 

IAA FAQ's 2008-2009 IAA FAQ's 2008-2009

PowerPoint Presentations

IAA Teacher Directions Step-by-Step PowerPoint IAA Teacher Directions Step-by-Step PowerPoint-Directions on how to implement the 2008-2009 IAA process.

Forms

Alternate Assessment Assurance Form 2008-2009 Alternate Assessment Assurance Form 2008-2009- Documents principal/teacher conversations around IAA rating scales and evidence.

IAA Transferring Student Form IAA Transferring Student Form - Provides information to the IAAteam on students exiting and entering school during 2008-2009.

IAA Rating Scales

Operational definitions of terms used in the IAA Rating Scale

Rating Scale Terms and Operational Definitions Rating Scale Terms and Operational Definitions 

 
         Reading Rating Scales

Math Rating Scales
Science Rating Scales

Summary of Cut Scores by Content Area

IAA Cut Scores by Content Area IAA Cut Scores by Content Area 

IAA Alternate Achievement Standards

Math Performance Level Descriptors & Cut Scores Math Performance Level Descriptors & Cut Scores 

Reading Performance Level Descriptors & Cut Scores Reading Performance Level Descriptors & Cut Scores 

Sciences Performance Level Descriptors & Cut Scores Sciences Performance Level Descriptors & Cut Scores 


Contact
Steve Maurer
515-281-3576
steve.maurer@iowa.gov

 

Last Updated ( Thursday, 21 August 2008 )