Ohio’s Alternate Assessment for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities (AASCD)
Ohio’s Alternate Assessment for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities (AASCD) is aligned to Ohio’s Learning Standards – Extended (OLS-E) and designed to allow students with significant cognitive disabilities to demonstrate their knowledge and skills in an appropriately rigorous assessment. The AASCD will be administered by grade level. Students in grades 3, 4, 6 and 7 will be assessed in English language arts and mathematics. Students in grades 5 and 8 will be assessed in English language arts, mathematics and science. Students taking the HS-AASCD will be assessed in English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.
Ohio's Alternate Assessment Participation Decision-Making Tool
To guide and support individualized education program (IEP) teams in determining whether a student is most appropriately assessed with an alternate assessment, the Ohio Department of Education and Workforce, in consultation with parents, teachers, administrators, and other stakeholders, has developed an Alternate Assessment Participation Decision-Making Tool. This Decision-Making tool clarifies and set specific criteria that students are required to meet. Any year a student could participate in the state’s general assessment (grades 3-12) and prior to a student participating in Ohio’s Alternate Assessment for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities (AASCD), the IEP team must complete this tool. Once high school students have met testing requirements for graduation, IEP teams no longer need to complete this Decision-Making Tool.
A Spanish version of the Decision-Making Tool is also available.
The Department received many questions and comments about the Decision-Making Tool from stakeholders during the writing process. A Decision-Making Tool Frequently Asked Questions document was created as a supplement to the Decision-Making Tool to address those questions and concerns.
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Resources
Family Resources
One-Page Flyer: This one-page flyer serves as a companion to family resources at Ohio’s Alternate Assessment FAQs quick link. The one-page flyer captures what families should know about alternate assessments, how IEP teams determine alternate assessment eligibility in Ohio, and provides a reminder that there is federal legislation in Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) that requires all students participate in statewide assessments. The goal for this document is to serve as useful guidance to IEP teams, especially parents, during special education meetings regarding alternate assessment inquiries, eligibility and participation. Versions are also available in Spanish , Somali and Gujarati.
District Resources
District Alternate Assessment Self-Reflection Guide: The Department developed the District Alternate Assessment Self-Reflection Guide as an optional resource for districts that are interested in being proactive regarding alternate assessment participation rates. This self-reflection guide is designed to support districts in the data review process to address the appropriate eligibility in the alternate assessment. Each section of the guide provides the Department’s best practices with guiding questions and resources.
Ohio’s Tiered Supports and Monitoring of District Alternate Assessment Participation Data: The Department developed the Tiered Supports and Monitoring of District Alternate Assessment Participation Data document to offer an overview of the Department's initiatives to assist and supervise local education agencies regarding alternate assessment participation data. An overview video is available which explains the document. This resource serves as a companion document to the above District Alternate Assessment Self-Reflection Guide. Alternate assessment tiered support and monitoring consists of three tiers and is achieved through various means, including training initiatives, the development of resources, and the provision of technical assistance.
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Ohio's Alternate Assessment Participation Waiver
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires states to ensure that the total number of students assessed in each subject using the Alternate Assessment for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities (AASCD) does not exceed 1.0 percent of the total number of all students in the state who took Ohio’s State Tests. States that anticipate exceeding 1.0 percent in alternate assessment participation must submit a waiver request to the U.S. Department of Education 90 days before the beginning of the alternate assessment testing window.
2023-2024 Waiver
2022-2023 Waiver
2021-2022 WAIVER
2020-2021 WAIVER
2019-2020 WAIVER
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District Alternate Assessment Participation
The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires states to ensure that the total number of students assessed in each subject using the Alternate Assessment for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities (AASCD) does not exceed 1.0 percent of the total number of all students in the state who took Ohio’s State Tests. States that anticipate exceeding 1.0 percent in alternate assessment participation must submit a waiver request to the U.S. Department of Education 90 days before the beginning of the alternate assessment testing window.
Ohio’s alternate assessment participation rate is 0.8% in reading, mathematics and science.
For 2024-2025, a template to assist with the district justification process is available. Note that this template is only a tool to help prepare your district justification. All district justifications must be submitted via the Ohio K12 Help Portal using your district’s unique link. The link will be emailed to superintendents on February 10, 2025 and due no later than May 2, 2025.
County Boards of Developmental Disabilities will not be reporting students this year through the justification and assurances. Districts and community schools that are designated as the district of residence are required to report these students attending a county board of DD.
To request a justification form submitted by a district or community school, please contact the Office for Exceptional Children or AAParticipation@education.ohio.gov.
Participation Rates:
The participation rates for school years 2020-2024 are below.
Memos to States
Department of Education Memos to States outline requirements under ESSA for 1.0% participation in alternate assessment.
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Last Modified: 2/27/2025 1:26:52 PM