Creating an Alternate Assessment Item

Appendix E: Creating an Alternate Assessment Item

Some students require alternate testing using the Data Entry Interface (DEI). In this method of testing, the test administrator (TA) delivers the item to the student directly, then enters information on the student’s response into the DEI. For example, for a Multiple Choice item, the TA may read a stem aloud to a student from a testing booklet and present the student with a few objects or options in a response booklet from which to select an answer.

On alternate assessment items, as determined in the Item Tracking System (ITS), the AltDoc Content button to the right of the Rubrics dropdown list opens the Alternate Assessment Document Editor window. (The Score Input interaction type has been deprecated.)

The editor window contains multiple tabs representing different stages of the item creation process:

Manipulatives: Manipulatives are physical objects, often printouts of images or text, that the TA uses to deliver the item. In this tab, you can add manipulative content, as explained in Creating Manipulatives. As an optional preliminary step, you may apply a preset template by following the instructions in Applying a Preset Template.
Scripts: The script created in the Scripts tab tells the TA what to say and do when delivering the item to the student. You can enter and style a script using the instructions in Creating a Script.
Design: In the Design tab, you can use your manipulative content to create the passages, stimuli, and response options the item needs. Here, you can also create the rubric and set the standards to which the item is aligned. Refer to Designing an Item for instructions.
Accessibility: In the Accessibility tab, you can create alternative text for manipulatives, as explained in Making an Item Accessible. Alternative text is useful for some students with disabilities, such as visual impairment.
DEI: In the DEI tab, you can auto-generate the content that will appear in DEI, as explained in Creating the Data Entry Interface (DEI) Content.
Reports: You can use this read-only tab to preview the alternate assessment documents that will not appear in the DEI, as explained in Previewing the Item Content.

You can navigate these tabs in order by clicking the Previous and Next Step buttons at the bottom of the window. To close the window, click the Close button.

Note that the alternate assessment document does not add to the file size of an item. Item size reflects only the content delivered in the DEI.