Overview
This page provides Planning and Placement Teams and Section 504 Teams with information on accessibility features available to students with an Individualized Education Program (IEP) or Section 504 Plan participating on statewide assessments.
General Resources Related to Accessibility Features and Accommodations
| Resource | Description |
| CSDE Assessment Guidelines | This document is intended to provide guidance for Connecticut school district personnel who must make decisions about testing special student populations on statewide assessments. |
| Assessment Resources for PPT and Section 504 Teams | This brochure provides PPT and Section 504 Teams with information on various resources available to them for decision making purposes. |
| Description of Designated Supports and Accommodations | This quick guide was developed for PPT and Section 504 Teams to provide an explanation of the types of accessibility supports available along with a brief description of their purpose and functionality. |
| CT-SEDS to TIDE Designated Supports/Accommodation Sync FAQ | This FAQ includes questions and answers to commonly asked questions regarding the CT-SEDS accommodations sync to TIDE. |
| Bureau of Special Education Back to School Assessment News Brief | Developed by the Performance Office, this news brief provides topics related to statewide assessments and accommodations. It was developed for the 2024 Bureau of Special Education Back to School Meeting. |
| Connecticut Statewide Assessment Participation Guidance for Planning and Placement Teams | This resource should be used prior to the Planning and Placement Team (PPT)/Section 504 Meeting to prepare for statewide assessment participation discussions and for the selection of accommodations applicable for each assessment system. |
Additional General Accessibility Tools and Resources
| Resource | Description |
| Accessibility Chart | This resource identifies a range of universal tools, designated supports, and accommodations available to students when accessing the Smarter Balanced and the NGSS Science Assessments. |
| Designated Supports/Accommodations Form | This resource identifies a range of universal tools, designated supports, and accommodations available to students when accessing the Smarter Balanced and the NGSS Science Assessments. |
| Designated Supports/Accommodations Form (Annotated) |
This is an annotated version of the optional Designated Supports/ Accommodations Form and captures the changes made for SY 2024-25. |
| CCSSO - Questions To Ask When Selecting Accessibility Supports | This resource provides questions that can be used by local educator teams to guide the initial selection of appropriate accessibility supports and to revisit the usefulness of current supports. |
Accessibility Tools and Resources
| Resource | Description |
| Documented Evidence for a Read Aloud of the Smarter Balanced ELA Reading Passages | The questions provided in this screener can assist PPT/Section 504 decision making teams in determining whether it is appropriate to indicate that the student should be provided a trained and qualified human reader of the Smarter Balanced ELA Reading Assessments in an individual test setting. |
| Decision Guidelines for Text-to-Speech of the Smarter Balanced ELA Reading Passages | The questions provided in this screener can assist PPT/Section 504 decision making teams in determining whether it is appropriate to indicate that the student should be provided text-to-speech of the Smarter Balanced ELA Reading passages. |
| Math Manipulatives Special Documented Accommodations Grades 3-8 Smarter Balanced Mathematics Assessment | The PPT/Section 504 decision making teams should review the Math Manipulatives brochure for details about eligibility and allowable usages on the Smarter Balanced Math Assessment prior to determination. |
LAS Links
| Resource | Description |
| LAS Links Accessibility Chart | This LAS Links Accessibility Chart identifies a range of universal tools and accommodations available students on the LAS Links Assessment. |
| LAS Links Reader Options Table | PPT/Section 504 decision making teams should review this resource for details about reader accommodations available on the LAS Links Assessments. |
| LAS Link Decision Guidelines TTS Accommodations | The questions provided in this screener can assist PPT/Section 504 decision making teams in determining whether it is appropriate to indicate that the student should be provided text-to-speech of the LAS Links Reading Domain. |
| LAS Links Documented Evidence for Reading | The questions provided in this screener can assist PPT/Section 504 decision making teams in determining whether it is appropriate to indicate that the student should be provided a trained and qualified human reader of the LAS Links Reading Domain in an individual test setting. |
Connecticut Alternate Assessment System (CTAA, CTAS, and CAAELP)
Eligibility forms are submitted through CT-SEDS as part of the PPT process. Below are the important dates for Alt Assessment form certification and implementation dates in CT SEDS. For more information please click here: Connecticut Alternate Assessment System Eligibility Form webpage.
Connecticut Alternate Assessment System Eligibility Form Verification in CT-SEDS
| Connecticut Alternate Assessment System Eligibility Form Verification in CT-SEDS | |
| CT-SEDS Implementation Date (Must be finalized in CT-SEDS) | Assessment |
| Fully Implemented IEP by 12/20/2024 |
Eligibility forms must be approved, verified, finalized, and implemented within the IEP in CT-SEDS for the following assessments for the students to be correctly registered for:
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| Fully Implemented IEP by 2/1/2025 |
Eligibility forms must be approved, verified, finalized, and implemented within the IEP in CT-SEDS for the following assessments for the students to be correctly registered for the:
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Connecticut Alternate Assessment System (CTAA, CTAS, and CAAELP) Resources
Connecticut Alternate Assessment System Eligibility Form - This form is used by PPTs to determine eligibility for student participation in Connecticut’s Alternate Assessment System. The eligibility form and verification section must be completed in CT-SEDS and the IEP must be implemented for the student to participate in alternate assessments.
Annotated Connecticut Alternate Assessment System Eligibility Form - This resource provides clarifying information for each section of the Connecticut Alternate Assessment Eligibility Form.
Connecticut Alternate Assessment System Participation Guidelines for Planning and Placement Teams - This flowchart provides PPTs with guidance on eligibility for student participation in the Connecticut Alternate Assessments System.
Training/Office Hours
Office Hours: Best Practices for Determining Accommodations for Statewide Assessments - This training provides best practices for determining accommodations for statewide assessments.
Parent Resource
Parent Overview Alternate Assessment System - This overview can be shared with parents/guardians at the PPT when discussing student eligibility on the Connecticut Alternate Assessment System.