Alternate Assessments - Item SamplersAccountability Programs :

An alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards, the Minnesota Test of Academic Skills (MTAS), was developed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. Item samplers for the MTAS are provided to familiarize test administrators and students with the format of the test. The MTAS consists of performance tasks which the test administrator scores with the use of a script and a task-specific scoring rubric. Item samplers include reading, mathematics and science examples, but cannot predict how well students will perform on the MTAS.

The item samplers posted on this page are similar to the actual test administration materials.

The MTAS item samplers for reading include the following test administration materials:

• Test administrator script with an embedded scoring rubric
• Text-only version of the passage
• Picture book version of the passage, presentation page, and response option cards
• Symbol book version of the passage, presentation page, and response option cards

The MTAS item samplers for mathematics and science include the following test administration materials:

• Test administrator script with an embedded scoring rubric
• Presentation page(s)
• Response option cards

MDE is developing a second alternate assessment, the MCA-Modified, which is based on modified achievement standards. Item samplers for the MCA-Modified will be posted when they are available.