Idaho Standards Achievement Tests Alternate (ISAT-Alt) Materials

All pertinent ISAT Alt manuals and documents are located her under the Document tab, as well as on the Idaho Training Clearinghouse Alternate Assessment Community website at http://idahotc.com/alternate-assessment/Home.aspx.

Idaho Portfolio Artifact Submission System (I-PASS)

I-PASS is online and available to teachers to upload student level data at https://apps.sde.idaho.gov/IPass. Teachers should work closely with their IEP team and testing coordinator to identify students eligible for the ISAT-Alt. Students and the content areas in which they will be taking the ISAT Alt need to be communicated to the District ISEE Manager as soon as possible. The District ISEE Manager provides the State Department of Education with monthly uploads of SIS data. That SIS data is used to populate the I-PASS student level folders. Error in student demographic information should be communicated to the District ISEE Manager as soon as possible so the error can be fixed in the next ISEE upload.

Deadline for Submission of ISAT-Alt Evidence

The deadline for submission of student evidence into I-PASS is February 28th at midnight (MST).

Baseline Data

Starting in the fall of 2012, teachers will be required to collect baseline data on all students and objectives. Baselines will be entered into the IPASS system when it becomes available on Dec. 1. Only baseline scores will be entered into the system.

Individual Student Level ISAT-Alt Reports

Individual ISAT-Alt score reports for all four content areas including; Mathematics, Reading, Language Usage and Science are available online for teachers at the ISAT-Alt Reporting Site at https://apps.sde.idaho.gov/IPassReporting/Home/Home

Idaho Alternate Assessment Eligibility/Participation Guidelines

Please download and or print these guidelines. The procedure for establishing eligibility and participation on the ISAT-Alt or IRI - Alt is accomplished through the use of the guidelines as a protocol. This protocol is meant to assist IEP teams in the determination of eligibility based upon specific criteria. This form is to be used as the protocol but does not need to be signed by the IEP team members or submitted into I-PASS. The individual designation of alternate assessments for each student should be made on the IEP itself or by saving this form along with the IEP files at the school and district levels.

IRI-Alt

The IEP team determines the eligibility for the IRI-Alt through the use of the Eligibility/Participation Guidelines protocol. There are two forms of alternate assessment for the IRI. They are the SAM (Student-Centered Assessment Measure) for nonverbal students and the Core Phonics. Either of these two alternates may be selected by the IEP team as the alternate for the IRI. Neither focus on fluency but rather on basic letter recognition, literacy and phonics skills so are better suited to assess the population of students with significant cognitive disabilities.

IMPORTANT NOTE: There is no fall or winter administration of the IRI-Alt in either form required. The IRI-Alt will be given during the spring IRI window only. Announcements, materials and reminders will be sent to the field nearer to the scheduled window.

Revised Accommodations Excel

The procedure for establishing the need for various instructional and assessment accommodations is accomplished through the use of the Accommodations Excel. It is to be used as the protocol for designating accommodations on instruction as well as on all state and federal assessments. These guidelines can be used as an excel or printed. This form does not need to be signed or submitted into I-PASS. The designated accommodations can be written on the IEP itself or by saving this form along with the IEP files at the school and district levels.

IMPORTANT NOTE: Please note that this excel lists all allowable accommodations that do not invalidate assessment results. Also note that these accommodations must be designated on a test by test basis as they are not consistent across all assessments. For instance extended time is allowable for the ISAT but not on NAEP. Make sure that these differences are communicated during IEP meetings to all parties and documented on the IEP itself or through attaching the accommodations excel. This will assure that all allowable accommodations are designated and used across all assessments.

ISAT-Alt Family Notification Letters

Both Spanish and English parent notification letters are available on this website under the documents tab as well as on the ITC website. Teachers should download, print and send home on an as needed basis to inform families that their child is taking the ISAT-Alt and what that will entail.

Please check back on the ITC IAA learning community for FAQ, announcements and updates to processes periodically throughout the year.

Toni C. Wheeler
Alternate Assessment Coordinator
Division of Assessment
Idaho State Department of Education
tcwheeler@sde.idaho.gov