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” The alternate assessment arena is rapidly 
evolving across the 50 states and the 
District of Columbia, reflecting the states’ 
responses to legislative, regulatory, technical, 
and methodological developments in the 
assessment of students with significant 
cognitive disabilities for federal, state, and 
local accountability purposes. NSAA is 
examining alternate assessment systems 
during this period of rapid evolution using two 
primary data collection methods: document 
analysis and data verification activities in 
50 states and the District of Columbia, and 
teacher surveys in selected states.