Assessments (ESSA)

The Key Question

What do we want to learn from our statewide, large-scale assessments? What actions will be taken as a result of our state assessments?

ESSA Highlights

ESSA § 1111(b)(2)(A)

Implement a set of high-quality student academic assessments in mathematics, language arts, and science. The state retains the right to implement such assessments in any other subject chosen by the state.

ESSA § 1111(b)(2)(B)(i,ii)

Aligned with challenging state academic standards, provide information about attainment of standards, performance at grade level.

ESSA § 1111(b)(2)(B)(v)

Administered to all public elementary and secondary school students.

• Math and language arts
  • In each of grades 3-8
  • At least once in grades 9-12
• Science
  • Not less than one time during:
    • Grades 3-5
    • Grades 6-8
    • Grades 10-12

ESSA § 1111(b)(2)(B)(vi)

Involve multiple up-to-date measures of student academic achievement, including measures that assess high-order thinking skills and understanding, which may include measure of student academic growth and may be partially delivered in the form of portfolios, projects, or extended performance tasks.

ESSA § 1111(b)(2)(B)(viii)

At the states discretion, be administered through a single summative assessment or be administered through multiple statewide interim assessments during the course of the academic year that result in a single summative score that provides valid, reliable, and transparent information on student achievement or growth.

ESSA § 1111(b)(2)(H)(i)

The state can approve nationally-recognized high school academic assessment(s) for use in lieu of the state-designed academic assessment for high school math, language arts, and/or science.

Requirements:

• Be aligned to state’s academic content standards
• Provide comparable, valid, and reliable data
• Provide meaningful differentiation between schools within the state

Alaska's Current Situation

ELA, Math assessment aligned to ELA and Math standards; administered in grades 3-10

• Achievement level descriptor alignment reviewed by Alaskan educators
• Item alignment study conducted by EdCount
• Items reviewed for alignment by Alaskan educators and DEED staff
• Science assessment aligned to science GLEs; administered in grades 4, 8, 10

Alaska administers the state ELA, math assessment to grades 9 & 10 and the science assessment to grade 10. The 2015-16 school year is the last year students are required to take either the SAT, ACT, or WorkKeys assessment to meet graduation requirements.

Alaska currently administers a summative assessment in April for ELA, math, and science.

To learn more about Alaska’s current comprehensive system of student assessments, visit our Assessments page.

Considerations for the Future

The primary issues currently under consideration by DEED are:

• High school grade levels tested
• High school test options and the allowance of a nationally recognized assessment
• Single, summative assessment or interim assessments that combine into one summative score
• Measurements of higher-order thinking skills

Resources

Documents and tools that support stakeholders to build knowledge of the timeline and requirements of ESSA:

• ESSA Standards & Assessments: Alaska’s Current Reality & Provisions Handout by DEED (pdf)
• CCSSO Assessment Definitions Handout (pdf)