State Profiles on Alternate Assessments Based on Alternate Achievement Standards

The National Study on Alternate Assessments
(NSAA) was mandated by Section 664(c) of
the Individuals With Disabilities Education
Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA). Specifically,
the law called for a “Study on Ensuring
Accountability for Students Who Are Held
to Alternative Achievement Standards” to
examine the following:
“(1) the criteria that States use to determine—
(A) eligibility for alternate assessments;
and
(B) the number and type of children who
take those assessments and are held
accountable to alternative achievement
standards;
(2) the validity and reliability of alternate
assessment instruments and procedures;
(3) the alignment of alternate assessments
and alternative achievement standards
to State academic content standards in
reading, mathematics, and science; and
(4) the use and effectiveness of alternate
assessments in appropriately measuring
student progress and outcomes specific
to individualized instructional need.”
(P.L. 108–446, 118 Stat. 2784, 2004)