Georgia Participation Criteria1. The student has been classified as an EL. 2. The student has been classified as a special education

student and is receiving special education services. 3. The student has a significant cognitive disability. 4. The student participates in the Georgia Alternate

Assessment (GAA).

Importantly, students shall not be administered both the Alternate ACCESS for ELLs and the ACCESS for ELLs.

Georgia Test ExaminersIt is recommended that the examiner be an educator who is familiar with the student and their special needs – and with whom the student feels comfortable.

As with the “general” ACCESS for ELLs, all Examiners are required to complete an WIDA online course (that will be specific to the Alternate ACCESS) and earn a qualifying score to administer the assessment.

Georgia’s Accommodation Guidance

Georgia Accommodations

• Always defer to GaDOE’s accommodation policies for language proficiency.

• The Alternate ACCESS TAM provides only recommendations on accommodations.

• The Student Assessment Handbook, 2012-2013

• Table 4 – Approved Accommodations for Students with Disabilities

Accommodations

Section 4 of the Test Administration

Manual

GA Assessment ResourcesThe Student Assessment Handbook, 2012-2013 is located on the

GaDOE website Assessment Page in the ‘For Educators’ portlet.

http://www.gadoe.org/Curriculum-Instruction-and-Assessment/Assessment/Pages/default.aspx

• Participation of EL Students in State Assessments, pages 133-137.

• Additional Considerations for Accommodations, pages 139-141.

• Table 4 – Approved Accommodations for Students with Disabilities, pages 142-145.