Subject: Special Education
Grade Level(s): 3 – 8, 11
Measures Growth: No
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The Illinois Alternate Assessment is a task-based assessment tool for students whose disabilities preclude them from participating in the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) or the Prairie State Achievement Examination (PSAE), with or without accomodations. The assessment is aligned to alternate state standards in reading, math, science and writing at all the grade levels tested by the ISAT and the PSAE.
Pros: Aligned to the standards I teach • Assesses higher-order thinking
Cons: Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level • Takes students too long to complete
Pros: Easy to administer
Cons: Results are not returned quickly • Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time • It is hard to use the data • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
This assessment is appropriate for cognitively delayed students functioning at K, 1st, or 2nd grade level who cannot take regular standardized tests independently. However the majority of my students are severely/profoundly delayed with limited attention spans and the task of attending to this test, much less understanding the question content and why test items are repeated several times is very frustrating to them. I strive to teach the curriculum to which the test items are aligned throughout the year at a level and pace that is appropriate for the population I teach so that they are prepared for this assessment.
Submitted by Cynthia in Illinois on April 13, 2013
Cons: Not aligned to the standards I teach • Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level • Takes students too long to complete
Cons: Difficult to administer • Results are not returned quickly • Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time • It is hard to use the data • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
My students have severe and profound disabilities. They have a mental capacity of at most 18 months old at the middle school level that I teach. This test is written far above anything that they can comprehend and will ever learn. We focus on daily living skills, functional communication skills and physical and occupational therapy activities on a daily basis. This test frustrates the students and requires an unimaginable amount of modifications for me to even be able to administer it to my students. It is honestly a complete waste of time for the students and myself. It takes about a week to administer the test for each student and that time could be better spent learning skills that will help them become more functionally independent in the future.
Submitted by Marlene in Illinois on April 10, 2013
Pros: Aligned to the standards I teach • Assesses higher-order thinking • Takes students a reasonable amount of time to complete
Cons: Misses growth of some students, such as those far below and/or far above grade level
Pros: Easy to administer • Data is presented clearly
Cons: Results are not returned quickly • Doesn't help me track my students' learning gains over time • Is not helpful to my professional growth as a teacher
In my opinion and from different experiences, the IAA is a good test for a certain population of students. Various amounts of students who take this test are at different Cognitive levels of learning. This exam is good for the higher functioning Intellectual Disability students who might be able to read and function at at least a first and second grade level.
Students who function at a preschool-Kindergarden level, and who have severe profound behavior/learning capabilities, severe Autism, should be taking a hands on or visual test at their own learning capacity.
Submitted by Marna in Illinois on February 15, 2012
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