Welcome to MSAA

​This test contains many built-in supports that allow students to show what they know and can do by communicating as independently as possible. This assessment was developed through the research and development done by the National Center and State Collaborative (NCSC). ​

The Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA) is a comprehensive assessment system designed to promote increasing higher academic outcomes for students with significant cognitive disabilities in preparation for a broader array of post-secondary outcomes.
  • ​MSAA is currently administered in the areas of ELA and Math in Grades 3-8 and 11.

​Currently, MSAA meets USED (U.S Department of Education) Peer Review requirements. 
  • Raising academic standards for all students and measuring student achievement to hold schools accountable for educational progress are central strategies for promoting educational excellence and equity in our Nation's schools. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) supports State efforts to establish challenging standards, develop aligned assessments, and build accountability systems for districts and schools that are based on educational results.
Accomodations
  • Paper version of test items
  • The use of a scribe
  • The use of sign language
  • Braille cards available for foundational item
Design
  • ​​Simplified language and shortened ELA passages
  • Modeling Strategies embedded in items
  • Pictures, charts, tables, and maps to help students understand the reading passages
  • Computer-based, two-stage adaptive test
  • Various item types: selected response, constructed response, and open-ended response