ACAP Alternative Assessement

The Alabama Comprehensive Assessment Program (ACAP) Alternate is a standards-based assessment designed specifically to ensure that students with the most significant cognitive disabilities are provided access to the state academic content standards and given the opportunity to demonstrate their knowledge, concepts, and skills as set forth in the Alabama Alternate Achievement Standards. The primary purpose of the ACAP Alternate is to determine the level at which Alabama students are meeting the standards.

Federal law requires the use of an alternate assessment for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities receiving special education services who cannot participate in the state assessment program. Each state is required to establish its own definition of “significant cognitive disabilities.”

The content areas to be assessed are English Language Arts (ELA) and math in grades 2 through 8, 10, and 11; and science in grades 4, 6, 8, 10, and 11.

The ACAP Alternate is an untimed assessment which allows for multiple breaks. The assessment can be completed over several days at the test administrator’s discretion, taking into account specific student needs.

The ACAP Alternate will be administered once a year in the spring.