District Testing

In Enrich IEP, the IEP team will first address participation in district assessments. Like with state assessments, the IEP team must address the participation level and determine any needed accommodations for any assessment administered throughout the life of the IEP.

Statewide Testing

Any state assessment administered during the life of the IEP must be addressed by the IEP team. If “Std w/Accom" is chosen the user will then select the appropriate accommodations from the dropdown box.

Click the arrow in the accommodations box beside the test to view the list of standard accommodations for the chosen assessment and select the appropriate accommodations based on the individual student’s needs.

Alternate Assessment

An Alternate Assessment on Alternate Achievement Standards (AA-AAS) is an assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities who are assessed against alternate achievement standards as they are unable to participate in the general assessment program even with appropriate accommodations. These students are assessed on grade-level content based on their age commensurate with the ages of students who are typically in the tested grades.

To participate in an Alternate Assessment on Alternate Achievement Standards (AA-AAS) a student must meet all of the following criteria:

• demonstrate a significant cognitive disability (at least 2 ½- 3 standard deviations below the mean on both verbal and nonverbal scales) and adaptive skill deficits (at least 2 1/2 -3 standard deviations below the mean in at least two adaptive skill domains), which result in performance that is substantially below grade-level achievement expectations even with the use of accommodations and modifications;


• access the state approved curriculum standards at less complex levels and with extensively modified instruction;


• possess current adaptive skills requiring extensive direct instruction and practice in multiple settings to accomplish the application and transfer of skills necessary for application in school, work, home, and community environments ;


• be unable to apply or use academic skills across natural settings when instructed solely or primarily through classroom instruction; and


• the inability to achieve the state grade-level achievement expectations is not the result of excessive or extended absences or social, cultural, or economic differences.

(Guidance for IEP Teams on Determining Participation in South Carolina Alternate Assessments)

For each state assessment users will indicate whether the student will participate in an alternate assessment. Users must also indicate whether the parent has been informed of all differences and their effects on any alternate participation, indicate that the student will participate in alternate assessment, and provide an explanation for why the student cannot participate in the general assessment.

If the student is participating in an alternate assessment through the life of the IEP, the IEP team will determine the Participation Level for each applicable assessment. Click the arrow next to the name of the assessment for the list to expand. Users will select each Alternate Assessment the student will participate in, and indicate whether the participation will be "Standard" or "Standard w/Accom". If "Standard w/Accom" is chosen the user will then select the appropriate accommodations from the dropdown box. Click the arrow in the accommodations box beside the test to view the list of standard accommodations for the chosen assessment and select the appropriate accommodations based on the individual student’s needs.

To continue to the next step in the IEP Process: Least Restrictive environment (LRE), click Next below.