Revised Test Administration Start Date for the 2015-16 New York State Alternate Assessment in Science and Social Studies
November 2015
SPECIAL EDUCATION FIELD ADVISORY
TO: District Superintendents, Superintendents of Public and Nonpublic Schools, Principals of Public and Nonpublic Schools, Superintendents of State Operated Schools, Leaders of Charter Schools, Special Education Directors, Chairpersons of Committees on Special Education, Superintendents, State Operated Schools, Executive Directors, Approved Private Schools, Other State Agency Education Program Directors
From: James P. DeLorenzo, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Special Education
Peter Swerdzewski, Assistant Commissioner, Office of Assessment, Standards, and Curriculum
Subject: Revised Test Administration Dates 2015-16-NYSAA in Science and Social Studies PDF of Special Education Field Advisory 
(118 KB)
The purpose of this memorandum is to inform school administrators and staff of the revised and expanded test administration period for the New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA) in science and social studies for the 2015-16 school year. NYSAA is the State testing program that measures the attainment of the State’s learning standards in English language arts (ELA), mathematics, science, and social studies for all students with severe disabilities in Grades 3-8 and high school.
In consultation with the NYSAA Educator Advisory Panel (EAP), the Department has determined that it is appropriate to extend the 2015-16 test administration period for the science and social studies assessment in order to provide teachers with additional time to administer the assessment. The revised NYSAA science and social studies test administration period will now begin on December 7, 2015 and end, as originally scheduled, on February 12, 2016. While school personnel administering the NYSAA in these subjects are not required to begin on December 7, 2015, the opportunity is now available for teachers to start assessing, as early as this date, if they choose to do so.
Attached for your reference is a chart of the overall format of the NYSAA, with the revised dates for test administration in science and social studies highlighted. For additional information on the English Language Arts and Math computer based components of NYSAA, please refer to the September 2015 memo from Executive Deputy Commissioner, Beth Berlin: http://www.p12.nysed.gov/assessment/nysaa/2015-16/nysaa-memo16rev.pdf.
If you have questions, you may contact the Office of State Assessment at 518-474-5900 or 518-474-5902, or by email to emscassessinfo@nysed.gov.
NYSAA 2015-16-Overview of Content Areas
Revised
Content |
Grades |
Administration |
Administration |
Scoring |
Scoring |
Test |
English Language Arts |
3-8 and High School |
Computer-Based Test |
March 21, 2016 through June 3, 2016 |
N/A* |
Computer-Based Scoring |
Dynamic Learning Maps |
Mathematics |
3-8 and High School |
Computer-Based Test |
March 21, 2016 through June 3, 2016 |
N/A* |
Computer-Based Scoring |
Dynamic Learning Maps |
Science |
4, 8, and High School |
Portfolio-Style- Datafolio |
Dec. 7, 2015 through Feb. 12, 2016 |
Feb. 29, 2016 through March 18, 2016 |
Regional Scoring Institutes |
Measured Progress, Inc. |
Social Studies |
High School |
Portfolio-Style- Datafolio |
Dec. 7, 2015 through Feb. 12, 2016 |
Feb. 29, 2016 Through March 18, 2016 |
Regional Scoring Institutes |
Measured Progress, Inc. |
*Not Applicable