Overview
Connecticut's Alternate Assessment System is composed the following assessments for eligible students with significant cognitive disabilities:
Students with significant cognitive disabilities are identified for participation in the Alternate Assessment System when the Planning and Placement Team (PPT) determines the student meets eligibility criteria. Trained teachers administer the Alternate Assessments individually to eligible students.
Resources Specific to the Alternate Assessment System
The Connecticut State Department of Education Comprehensive Assessment Program Portal provides access to test administration resources for the Connecticut Alternate Assessment and the Connecticut Alternate Science Assessment.
Preparing for Testing
Frequently asked Questions About the Connecticut Alternate Assessment System - This FAQ document is intended to provide local education agencies (LEAs), parents, advocacy organizations, and other interested parties with information regarding the requirements for serving Connecticut’s children with significant cognitive disabilities participating in alternate assessments. This document represents the current understanding of the CSDE on this topic. This guidance does not impose any additional requirements beyond those required under applicable law and regulations.
Connecticut Alternate Assessment System Participation Guidance for Planning and Placement Teams Flowchart - The Connecticut Alternate Assessment System Participation Guidance for Planning and Placement Teams flowchart provides the Planning and Placement Team (PPT) with guidance on eligibility for student participation in the Connecticut Alternate Assessment (CTAA) for mathematics and English language arts (ELA) (for students in Grades 3–8 and 11) and the Connecticut Alternate Science (CTAS) Assessment (for students in Grades 5, 8, and 11). This flowchart should be used in conjunction with the Connecticut Alternate Assessment Eligibility Form.
Connecticut Alternate Assessment Eligibility Form Submission Dates and Additional Information
Annotated Alternate Assessment Eligibility Form - The Annotated Connecticut Alternate Assessment Eligibility Form provides refined guidance to Connecticut’s public school districts for the identification of appropriate students for participation in the Connecticut Alternate Assessment System. The Annotated Alternate Assessment Eligibility Form provides clarifying information for each section of the Connecticut Alternate Assessment Eligibility Form based on monitoring results by the Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE), data analysis of submitted forms, and stakeholder input.
Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about the Connecticut Alternate Assessment Eligibility Form
How to Access the Data Entry interface (DEI)
Alternate Assessment System Required Training - The Connecticut State Department of Education (CSDE) requires Alternate Assessment Training for Teachers Administering the Alternate (TEAs). It is a mandatory online course completed each school year to provide qualified educators with essential alternate assessment materials and permissions to administer these assessments. Educators passing the embedded quiz for the training with a score of 80 percent or better will be assigned the Trained TEA certification and will be provided all associated privileges for administering the alternate assessments.
Ensuring TEA Access to the Connecticut Alternate Assessment System Training (2021- 22 Coming Soon)
Two overviews regarding the required Connecticut Alternate Assessment System Training are available: one for District Administrators (DAs in TIDE) and one for the teachers who will be administering the CTAA for ELA and Math, and CTAS (if applicable) during the 2021-22 school year. Information includes how to manage and update the list of TEAs and ensure that all user accounts in TIDE are updated, so that teachers can access the required online training when it is available.
- Alternate Assessment System Training Overview for District Administrators - describes the responsibilities of the DA in TIDE for the mandatory online course completed each school year, to provide qualified educators with essential alternate assessment materials and the permissions to administer these assessments. The DAs must follow these procedures to ensure the alternate assessments are administered by teachers qualified for this responsibility.
- Alternate Assessment System Training Overview for Teachers Administering the Alternate - describes the responsibilities of the TEA and the procedures to ensure the alternate assessments are administered by teachers qualified for this responsibility.
Connecticut Alternate Assessment System - Early Stopping Rule Flowchart - This document outlines all steps that a Trained Teacher Administering the Alternate (TEA) must take to determine if a student qualifies for the Early Stopping Rule (ESR) for the Connecticut Alternate Assessment (CTAA) and the Connecticut Alternate Science (CTAS) Assessment.
Assessment Guidelines - This document is intended to provide guidance for Connecticut school district personnel who must make decisions about testing special student populations for the following assessments: Smarter Balanced, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Assessment, Connecticut Alternate Assessment (CTAA) in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics, and the Connecticut Alternate Science Assessment (CTAS).
Results Release: Sample parent/guardian letters: CTAA (Spanish) and CTAS (Spanish)
Parent/Guardian Resources
Parent Overview of Connecticut’s Alternate Assessment System