Alternate Assessment: Early Highlights and Pitfalls of Reporting

Abstract

Alternate assessment scoring and reporting systems are emerging across states. This article highlights those of Delaware and Indiana. Delaware's alternate assessment portfolios are scored by two third parties using a multidimensional rubric. Scores are checked for agreement, and discrepancies are resolved. Delaware reports five dimension scores and a total portfolio score, aligned in format to the regular assessment reports. In Indiana, lead teachers use a rubric similar to that used in general education assessments to score alternate assessment electronic portfolios. The state is in the process of developing a common metric for domain and subdomain scores, which will allow alternate assessment scores to be reported with the same level of detail as general assessment scores. Although these states were selected for this report due to their preparedness in the area of reporting, both view their methods as still evolving and improving.