AASA

Educator Committees 

Apply to be part of the Educator Committees:

Arizona's test development process involves an extensive review before an item will count toward students' test scores. During the item development process, all assessment items are written in accordance with Item Specifications. A committee of Arizona educators reviews and approves the items to confirm alignment and appropriateness for inclusion on the test. Each step in the process is designed to ensure that test results are valid, reliable, and appropriate for Arizona students, families, and other members of Arizona communities. Participating educators are representatives of Arizona's geographic regions and represent culturally diverse populations. For these committees, we are inviting content area teachers, teachers of students with disabilities, teachers of EL students, and instructional coaches/administrators to provide their perspectives on the items and standards set on Arizona's statewide assessments. If you are interested in serving on an Assessment Educator Committee, please complete the form linked below.

Educator Committee Application

AASA Test Dates

Spring 2025 Testing

• CBT: March 31 - April 25, 2025
  • Grades 3-8 Writing and Grade 3 Oral Reading Fluency must be completed by April 11, 2025
• PBT: March 31 - April 9, 2025
  • Writing must be scheduled for March 31 or April 1, 2025

Summer 2025 Grade 3 ELA-Reading

• Optional for Grade 3 students who fail to meet the Move on When Reading (MOWR) indicator on the Spring 2025 AASA ELA-Reading administration and who do not qualify for one of the MOWR good cause exemptions
• CBT Test Window coming soon

Test Administration Information

Spring 2025 Testing Mode

The Achievement Testing Mode Application was open in ADEConnect from September 9 - October 4, 2024.

All Achievement testing (AASA, AzSCI, ACT Aspire, and ACT) is, by default, administered to students by computer. Requests for schools to administer paper tests must be received within ADEConnect during the window provided above. 

No action needs to be taken if your school site(s) will administer computer-based assessments for Spring 2025.

 Special Paper Version Tests 

Special Paper Version (SPV) tests are available for students unable to use a computer based on their daily instruction and IEP or 504 plan. SPV tests include Braille, large print, and regular print paper tests. 

SPV test requests must be submitted to ADE for review from September 3, 2024 - February 21, 2025.

2024-2025 Special Paper Version Test Request Process

2024-2025 Special Paper Version Test Request Form (opens September 3, 2024)

Testing Accommodations

Additional Accommodation requests must be submitted to ADE for review from September 3, 2024 - February 21, 2025.

2024-2025 Additional Accommodations Request Process

2024-2025 Additional Accommodations Request Form (opens September 3, 2024)

Additional Accommodations Requests SHOULD NOT include Universal Test Administration Conditions or Universal Tools.

Arizona Accommodations Manual

ADE Exceptional Student Services

AASA Sample Tests

AASA Sample Tests and Tutorials

Directions: Select Arizona, then click on "Mic Check and Sample Tests"

Scoring Guides for Sample Tests

ELA

• AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Grade 3
• AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Grade 4
• AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Grade 5
• AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Grade 6
• AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Grade 7
• AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Grade 8

• AASA Scoring Guide - Oral Reading Fluency Grade 3

• AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Writing Grade 3
• AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Writing Grade 4
• AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Writing Grade 5
• AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Writing Grade 6
• AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Writing Grade 7
• AASA Scoring Guide - ELA Writing Grade 8

Math

• AASA Scoring Guide - Math Grade 3
• AASA Scoring Guide - Math Grade 4
• AASA Scoring Guide - Math Grade 5
• AASA Scoring Guide - Math Grade 6
• AASA Scoring Guide - Math Grade 7
• AASA Scoring Guide - Math Grade 8

 Grade 3 Oral Reading Fluency

The Oral Reading Fluency (ORF) test section is administered to all third-grade students.

• Recommended Seating Arrangements
• Headphone and Microphone Requirements
• Pearson Headset Recommendations
• Accessibility for Grade 3 ORF Items
• ORF Frequently Asked Questions

 Spring 2025 Manuals and Checklists 

Recommended Seating Arrangements

Spring 2025 AASA District Test Coordinator Important Tasks Checklist

Coming Fall / Winter 2024-2025:

AASA Spring 2025 Test Coordinator's Manual

AASA Spring 2025 Test Administration Directions (for Computer-Based Testing)

AASA Spring 2025 Test Administration Directions (for Paper-Based Testing)

 PearsonAccess^next User's Guide 

Spring 2024 AASA and AzSCI PearsonAccess^next User's Guide

Coming Fall / Winter 2024-2025:

Spring 2025 AASA and AzSCI PearsonAccess^next User's Guide

AASA Blueprints and Cut Scores

AASA ELA Blueprints

AASA Math Blueprints

AASA Cut Scores

AASA Item Specifications

AASA Item Specifications are aligned to the 2016 ELA and Mathematics Standards.

ELA Item Specifications

• ELA Grade 3
• ELA Grade 4
• ELA Grade 5
• ELA Grade 6
• ELA Grade 7
• ELA Grade 8

Math Item Specifications

• Math Grade 3
• Math Grade 4
• Math Grade 5
• Math Grade 6
• Math Grade 7
• Math Grade 8

 Performance Level Descriptors 

AASA Performance Level Descriptors (PLDs)  are aligned to the 2016 English Language Arts and Mathematics Standards.

ELA

• ELA Grade 3
• ELA Grade 4
• ELA Grade 5
• ELA Grade 6
• ELA Grade 7
• ELA Grade 8
• ELA Grades 3-8

Math

• Math Grade 3
• Math Grade 4
• Math Grade 5
• Math Grade 6
• Math Grade 7
• Math Grade 8
• Math Grades 3-8

 AASA Writing Resources 

AASA Writing Resources - Descriptions

Writing Rubrics

• Grades 3-5 Informative-Explanatory Rubric
• Grades 3-5 Opinion Rubric
• Grades 6-8 Informative-Explanatory Rubric
• Grades 6-8 Argumentative Rubric

Writing Guides

• Grades 3-5 Informative-Explanatory
• Grades 3-5 Opinion
• Grades 6 Argumentative
• Grades 6-8 Informative-Explanatory
• Grades 7-8 Argumentative

Writing Rubric Guides

• Grades 3-5 Informative
• Grades 3-5 Opinion
• Grades 6-8 Informative
• Grades 6-8 Argumentative

Annotated Writing Samples Guides

• Grade 3
• Grade 4
• Grade 5
• Grade 6
• Grade 7
• Grade 8

Writing Prompt Templates

Grade-level prompt templates can be found in the Item Specifications documents for your grade level.

ADE Writing Presentation for AASA

AASA Additional ELA Resources

• DOK Question Stems
• Hess' Matrix

Read-Aloud Guidance for Paper-Based Testing

 AASA Additional Math Resources 

• Calculator Guidance
• Hess Math Matrix
• Desmos Graphing Calculator
• Desmos Scientific Calculator
• Grid-In Response Items (for Paper-Based Testing)

Read-Aloud Guidance for Paper-Based Testing

 Reporting 

AASA Spring 2025

May 15, 2025 - Electronic score reports, Student Data Files, and OnDemand Reports for Grade 3 ELA and Math available in PearsonAccess^next

May 23, 2025 - Electronic score reports, Student Data Files, and OnDemand Reports for Grades 4-8 ELA and Math available in PearsonAccess^next

June 11, 2025 - AASA Parent Portal is available (this is an optional resource for sharing score reports with parents)

June 12, 2025 - Paper copies of score reports delivered to districts and charters

June 13, 2025 - Grades 3-8 Performance Level Dashboards and Historical Student Data available in PearsonAccess^next

Spring 2025 AASA Student Data File Layout - Coming Soon

Spring 2024 AASA Student Data File Layout

AASA Reporting Guide

AASA Family Report Guide (English & Spanish)

AASA Parent Portal User Guide

AASA Parent Portal User Guide (Spanish)

AASA Grade 3 Summer 2024

August 16, 2024 - Electronic score reports and Student Data Files for Grade 3 ELA - Reading available in PearsonAccess^next

August 30, 2024 - Paper copies of score reports delivered to districts and charters

Summer 2024 AASA Grade 3 ELA-Reading Student Data File Layout

AASA Grade 3 Summer ELA-Reading Family Report Guide (English & Spanish)

K-12 Standards

• K-12 Academic Standards