Information Related to the New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA)

This page provides information on the requirements relating to the NYSAA pursuant to the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA).  NYSAA is part of the New York State (NYS) testing program that measures attainment of the State’s learning standards in the areas of English language arts (ELA), mathematics, and science for students with the most severe disabilities in grades 3-8 and high school.  The NYSAA in ELA, mathematics and science are assessed using the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) alternate assessment.  DLM is a computer-delivered adaptive assessment measuring a student's achievement of the State Standards in these subject areas at a reduced level of depth, breadth, and complexity.  This webpage provides information on NYS’s eligibility criteria to assist school districts and parents in determining the appropriate participation of students with severe disabilities in the NYSAA and on the impact a student’s participation in the NYSAA has on earning a NYS diploma. Information is also provided on ESSA’s 1.0 percent State-level cap on participation of students in an alternate assessment.  Please check this site often for additional resources and updated guidance.

Changes to the New York State Alternate Assessment

• ​Administration of the New York State Alternate Assessment in the 2022-23 School Year:   Information is being provided regarding changes to the administration of the New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) in Science beginning with the 2022-2023 school year. Students eligible to participate in the grade 4 NYSAA in Science will not be tested in the 2022-2023 school year. Instead, these students will be tested in grade 5 the following year (spring 2024).

New York State Alternate Assessment Universal Technical Assistance and Supports (Tier 1 Activities)

• 1.0 Percent New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) Webinar – May 2023
• New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) May 2023 Online Quiz
• Eligibility Criteria for Participation in the New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) Memo – May 2019
  • Eligibility Criteria for Participation in the New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) – Policy Brief  – May 2019
  • New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) Participation Decision-Making Flowchart
  • New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) Participation Decision-Making Checklist
  • Parent Notification of Participation in the New York State Alternate Assessment (Sample Letter)
• Office of State Assessment – New York State Office of State Assessment Alternate Assessment webpage 
  • Eligibility and Participation Criteria - NYSAA

1.0 Percent State Cap on Students Participating in the New York State Alternate Assessment

• Justification for Exceeding 1.0 Percent State-level Cap on New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) Participation and Assurance of Participation in Tier 1 Universal Technical Assistance and Supports (2022-2023 NYSAA Participation Data)
• District Justification Summary Based on 2021-2022 NYSAA Participation Data

ESSA Guidance and Regulations

• 34 CFR 200.1 – State responsibilities for developing challenging academic standards
• 34 CFR 200.6  – Inclusion of students with disabilities in state assessments and alternate assessments
• United States Department of Education Requirements for the Cap on the Percentage of Students who may be Assessed with an Alternate Assessment Aligned with Alternate Academic Achievement Standards (May 16, 2017)
• EVERY STUDENT SUCCEEDS ACT Assessments under Title I, Part A & Title I, Part B: Summary of Final Regulations

Additional Resources

General Resources

• Dynamic Learning Maps
  • Who are the Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities?  Video and training materials that can be viewed alone or used in combination for training.
• Center for Parent Information and Resources: Fact Sheet on Alternate Assessments
• National Center on Educational Outcomes

Root Cause Analyses Resources

• Office of Special Education Educational Partnership
• 1% Toolkit: Data Analysis and Use Planning Tool for Examining AA-AAAS Participation: Addressing the Percentage of Students Participating in the Alternate Assessment – National Center for Educational Outcomes (NCEO) Tool #2
• 1% Toolkit: State-District Data Display Templates: Addressing the Percentage of Students Participating in the Alternate Assessment – National Center for Educational Outcomes (NCEO) Tool #3
• 1% Toolkit: District Dialogue Guide: Addressing the Percentage of Students Participating in the Alternate Assessment – National Center for Educational Outcomes (NCEO) Tool #4
• NCEO Brief 18. Guidance for Examining Disproportionality of Student Group Participation in Alternate Assessments. – National Center on Educational Outcomes
• Guidance for Examining Participation Rates and Disproportionality: A Video Training Module – The National Center for the Improvement of Educational Assessment, Inc.