Illinois Alternate Assessment
Measuring the Progress
of Students with Significant Disabilities
What is the Illinois Alternate Assessment?
The Illinois Alternate Assessment (IAA) is the instrument the state
uses to measure the learning of students with significant disabilities.
The IAA reflects students’ progress in achieving the knowledge
and skills they are expected to learn.
Which students take the IAA?
Students with severe disabilities participate in the IAA if their
Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) indicate that participation
in the state’s regular assessments – the Illinois Standards
Achievement Test (ISAT) or the Prairie State Achievement Examination
(PSAE) – is not appropriate. If a student’s IEP says the
student can take the regular state assessment, with or without accommodations,
the student participates in ISAT or PSAE.
What does the IAA look like?
The IAA isn’t like a standard paper-and-pencil test. Instead
it is a portfolio of student work and other materials collected
at two points in the school year. The materials can include samples
of student work, photos of the student doing work in school or at
home and teachers’ summaries of what students have learned.
How is the IAA scored?
Trained scorers (certified teachers) evaluate each portfolio on
several dimensions:
- Student progress in the academic subject.
- Relevance of the portfolio items to the Illinois Learning Standards.
What happens to the scores?
A student’s scores go to the student’s home school for
the student's teacher and parents. The home school receives
the scores because it is accountable for the student’s performance,
and the information becomes part of the School Report Card. If a
student does not attend his or her home school, then the home school
should share the student’s IAA results with the school of attendance.
Schoolwide, districtwide, and statewide scores are public information
and available on request.
Teachers and parents use the scores to plan instruction for students. Educators
and the public use the scores to evaluate the progress that students
with significant disabilities are making toward meeting the Illinois
Learning Standards and to improve their educational opportunities.
Where can I learn more about the IAA?
For information on the Illinois Alternate Assessment, visit
www.isbe.net/assessment/iaa.htm or write Student Assessment
Division (E-216) Illinois State Board of Education100 North First
Street Springfield, Illinois 62777-0001 Telephone: 217/782-4823
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