Idaho Alternate Assessment (IDAA)

Alternate Assessments (AAs) are a statewide testing option intended only for those students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, in lieu of the general education assessment, with or without supports and accommodations. Participation in AAs reflects the pervasive nature of a significant cognitive disabilities and requires that a student meet all participation criteria, as outlined in IDAA Participation Definitions and Criteria. Students with the most significant cognitive disabilities represent about 1.0% of the total student population.

The Idaho Alternate Assessment (IDAA) falls under the ISAT umbrella.  It is the ISAT participation option for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. All students in grades 3-8 and 11 are required to take the ISAT in English Language Arts (ELA) and math. Science is administered to all students in grades 5, 8, and 11. For additional details regarding testing populations, refer to Testing Population Requirements. 

A designation given to a small number of students with disabilities for the purposes of their participation in alternate assessments. Having a significant cognitive [disability] is not solely determined by an IQ test score, nor based on a specific disability category, but rather a complete understanding of the complex needs of a student. Students with significant cognitive [disabilities] have a disability or multiple disabilities that significantly impact their adaptive skills and intellectual functioning. These students have adaptive skills well below average in two or more skill areas and intellectual functioning well below average (typically associated with an IQ below 55) (Idaho Special Education Manual).

A student must meet all four (4) alternate assessment participation criteria to qualify for the IDAA. The student’s IEP team uses the IDAA participation criteria to determine if a student qualifies. The IDAA participation criteria are outlined in the IDAA Participation Definitions and Criteria. 

All qualifying students in grades 3 – 8 and 10 are required to take the IDAA in English Language Arts (ELA) and math. Science is administered to all qualifying students in grades 5, 8, and 11. For additional details regarding testing populations, refer to Testing Population Requirements. 

State-required IDAA testing occurs in the Spring. The state testing window generally runs from the second week in March through the second-to-last week in May. Schools and districts may set their own testing schedules within the state window. For specific test window dates, refer to the Assessment Windows Chart.

Because the IDAA is administered to students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, many accommodations typically allowed on other statewide tests are universally available on the IDAA without the need for IEP accommodations.  See the IDAA Accessibility Features Guidance for a full list and explanations of all allowable accessibility features.

The purpose of the Early Stopping Rule (ESR) is to prevent students who do not have a consistent, observable mode of communication from taking the entire IDAA. The ESR allows the Test Administrator (TA) to submit a student’s IDAA after administering the first four scorable items on the test. The Student Response Check is required if a student may be a candidate for the ESR.  The ESR is not appropriate for students who have no consistent, observable response because of behavioral and other issues.  Refer to the ESR Quick guide for more details.

The purpose of the Student Response Check (SRC) is to evaluate a student’s ability to demonstrate a consistent, observable response using his or her preferred method of communication. This content-neutral assessment provides an opportunity to observe and confirm the student’s mode of response.  The SRC is only required if a student may be a candidate for the ESR.  Refer to the SRC Quick guide for more details.

IDAA scores reflect a student’s performance in relation to Idaho’s grade-level standards. Scores are reported on a four-level scale – Level 1: Below Basic, Level 2: Basic, Level 3: Proficient, and Level 4: Advanced. Refer to the IDAA Achievement Standards for more information.

Students who receive a score of Level 3 or Level 4 are considered proficient on the IDAA. See the IDAA Cut Scores for what scale score is considered proficient at each grade level.

IDAA results are used at various levels to inform educational decisions. Students, families, educators, and policy makers use the data to make informed decisions regarding the effectiveness of programs and systems, the impact of curriculum and instruction, and the allocation of support and resources. See Why Do Assessments Matter for general ways ISAT data may be used. See the Accountability and Reporting Business Rules for specific ways ISAT data is used for school and district accountability.

For proficiency rate calculations, only students who are considered “continuously enrolled” count toward a school’s or district’s proficiency scores. A student is continuously enrolled if they are “enrolled in the same public school from the end of the first eight (8) weeks or fifty-six (56) calendar days of the school year through the state approved spring testing administration period, not including the make-up portion of the test window.” Additional information can be found in the Accountability and Reporting Business Rules.

The IDAA is administered individually to qualifying students.  This means that a student’s teacher or other familiar staff member administers the IDAA to a qualifying student one-on-one.  The IDAA uses the same test delivery system as for the ISAT. Specific information for administering the IDAA in ELA, Math and Science is located on the ISAT Portal.

Access to the Idaho Portal is managed at the school or district level. Teachers and administrators should reach out to their school or district test coordinator to set up their account. Test coordinators should refer to the TIDE User Guide and TIDE Playlist for information on creating staff/user accounts.

Each year, all staff involved in the IDAA test administration process, including test administrators/proctors, must – at a minimum – receive test security training, read the Assessment Integrity Guide, complete the appropriate Test Administrator (TA) Certification Course, complete the IDAA TA Certification Course, and sign the Assessment Confidentiality Agreement.

All manuals, guidelines, and resources are available in the Resources tab of the Idaho Portal.

All staff involved in the IDAA test administration process is responsible for ensuring test security and reporting any test incidents using school or district procedures. School and district test coordinators are responsible for training staff in test security policies and procedures.

District test coordinators are also responsible for reporting test incidents, including improprieties and security breaches, to the state IDAA Test Coordinator. For more information on test incidents, refer to the Assessment Integrity Guide and the IDAA Test Administration Manual (TAM).

It depends. Schools are encouraged to test all students, regardless of when they enroll. However, for accountability and reporting purposes, only students who enroll before mid-April and remain enrolled through the first Friday in May or the last day of school (whichever comes first) are included in participation rate calculations.

For the specific enrollment dates used each year, refer to the Accountability and Reporting Business Rules on the Idaho Department of Education’s accountability webpage.

First-year English Learners (ELs) who qualify for the IDAA must take the math and science assessments.

However, they may receive a one-time exemption from taking the ELA IDAA. See the Participation Requirements section of the IDAA Test Administration Manual for more information.