Related Resources

Alternate Assessment Administration Resources

• Connecticut Alternate Assessment System Participation Guidance for Planning and Placement Teams Flowchart - The Connecticut Alternate Assessment System Participation Guidance for Planning and Placement Teams flowchart provides the Planning and Placement Team (PPT) with guidance on eligibility for student participation in the Connecticut Alternate Assessment (CTAA) for mathematics and English language arts (ELA) (for students in grades 3–8 and 11) and the Connecticut Alternate Science (CTAS) Assessment  (for students in grades 5, 8, and 11). This flowchart should be used in conjunction with the Connecticut Alternate Assessment Eligibility Form.
• Frequently asked Questions About the Connecticut Alternate Assessment System - This FAQ document is intended to provide local education agencies (LEAs), parents, advocacy organizations, and other interested parties with information regarding the requirements for serving Connecticut’s children with significant cognitive disabilities participating in alternate assessments. This document represents the current understanding of the CSDE on this topic. This guidance does not impose any additional requirements beyond those required under applicable law and regulations. 
• Connecticut Alternate Assessment Eligibility Form
• Frequently Asked Questions and Answers about the Connecticut Alternate Assessment Eligibility Form
• 2019-20 Connecticut Alternate Assessment System: Transition from the Learner Characteristics Inventory to the Connecticut Alternate Assessment Eligibility Form
• Guidance About Students Who Qualify for the Connecticut Alternate Assessment Early Stopping Rule - This document outlines all steps that a Trained Teacher Administering the Alternate (TEA) must take to determine whether or not a student qualifies for the Early Stopping Rule (ESR) for the Connecticut Alternate Assessment (CTAA) and the Connecticut Alternate Science Assessment (CTAS).
• Connecticut Alternate Science Assessment Test Administrators Manual

Test Administration Resources The Connecticut State Department of Education Comprehensive Assessment Program Portal provides access to test administration resources for the Connecticut Alternate Assessment and the Connecticut Alternate Science Assessment.   Other Resources

• Assessment Guidelines - This document is intended to provide guidance for Connecticut school district personnel who must make decisions about testing special student populations for the following assessments: Smarter Balanced, Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) Assessment, Connecticut Alternate Assessment (CTAA) in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics, and the Connecticut Alternate Science Assessment (CTAS).
• CTAA Test Administration Manual
  This manual provides information for the Teacher Test Administrator and District/School Coordinator regarding policies and procedures for the 2018 Connecticut Alternate Assessment in mathematics and  English language arts/literacy.

• User Permissions for Secure Online Systems brochure.

• CTAS - Assessing Students Who Are Blind, Deaf or Deaf-Blind

• National Center and State Collaborative (NCSC)
• NCSC Wiki
  The NCSC Wiki provides materials to support educators with instruction aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). This wiki also provides curriculum, instructional, core content connectors, and parent resources.

• 2018 CTAS/CTAA Sample Parent Letter

• This overview for parents/guardians describes components and resources for Connecticut’s Alternate Assessment System designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities.

• Connecticut Alternate Assessment System - Early Stopping Rule Flowchart

• Connecticut Alternate Assessment (CTAA) for English Language Arts and Mathematics TEA Responsibility Checklist

• The Connecticut Alternate Assessment Science Assessment TEA Responsibility Checklist

• CTAS Required Materials

• 2020 NGSS Interpretive Guide

• Connecticut Science Assessments Reporting FAQ

Ensuring TEA Access to the Connecticut Alternate Assessment Systems

Two overviews regarding the required Connecticut Alternate Assessment (CTAA) System Training are available: one for District Administrators (DAs in TIDE) and one for the teachers who will be administering the CTAA for ELA and Math, and CTAS (if applicable) during the 2020-21 school year.  Information also includes how to manage and update the list of TEAs and ensure that all user accounts in TIDE are updated, so that teachers can access the required online training when it becomes available.

Connecticut Alternate Assessment System Training – Overview for District Administrators–describes the responsibilities of the DA in TIDE for the mandatory online course completed each school year, to provide qualified educators with essential alternate assessment materials and the permissions to administer these assessments.  The DAs must follow these procedures to ensure the alternate assessments are administered by teachers qualified for this responsibility.

Connecticut Alternate Assessment System Training – Overview for Teachers Administering the Alternate–describes the responsibilities of the TEA and the procedures to ensure the alternate assessments are administered by teachers qualified for this responsibility.

Performance Level Descriptors

The ELA Performance Level Descriptors and Math Performance Level Descriptors were developed to summarize the knowledge, skills and abilities prioritized for the CTAA that students need to attain at each level of achievement (Level 1-Level 4). Each performance level includes the knowledge, skills and abilities of the preceding performance levels.