Assessment(s)

Assessments are tools or ways of collecting information about a student’s knowledge, skills and needs. Assessment(s) may include formal and informal tests, observations and/or review of students' portfolios or work samples. Also, see “evaluation” and "transition assessment".

According to the Florida Department of Education website, alternate assessment is designed for students whose participation in the general statewide assessment program is not appropriate, even with accommodations. It is fully aligned to Florida's alternate academic achievement standards, otherwise known as Access Points. Access Points reflect the key concepts of the Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) Standards for English language arts and mathematics and Florida's statewide standards for science and social studies. They ensure access to the essence or core intent of the standards that apply to all students in the same grade, but at reduced levels of complexity. The results of the statewide standardized testing can be waived if the student meets the following criteria:

• The student must be identified as a student with a disability.
• The student must have an individual education plan (IEP).
• The student must have taken the statewide, standardized assessment with appropriate allowable accommodations at least once.
• The IEP team must make a determination of whether a statewide, standardized assessment accurately measures the student's abilities, taking into consideration all allowable accommodations for students with disabilities.