AASA

Arizona's Academic Standards Assessment (AASA)

 

English Language Arts and Math Essential Standards

 

Grades 3-8 Testing:

AASA is the statewide achievement test for Arizona students in Grades 3-8.  All Arizona public school students in Grades 3-8 will take the grade-level AASA assessments in English Language Arts and Mathematics.

Contact Pearson Customer Support for AASA:

888-705-9421, Option 3 or Contact Form

 

PearsonAccessnext

2025-2026 Achievement Tests Staff Security Agreement

  Assessment Results 

  Email AASA Inbox

 

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 English learner students, instructional coaches, and 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

Spring 2026 Testing

Computer-Based Testing: March 30 - April 24, 2026

  • Grades 3-8 Writing and Grade 3 Oral Reading Fluency must be completed by April 10, 2026

 

Paper-Based Testing: March 30 - April 8, 2026

  • Grades 3-8 Writing must be scheduled for March 30 or March 31, 2026
  • Grade 3 Oral Reading Fluency must be completed by April 10, 2026

Spring 2026 Testing Mode

The Achievement Testing Mode Application was open in ADEConnect September 8 - October 3, 2025.

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 submitted by Achievement District Test Coordinators in ADEConnect during the window provided above. Requests must explain special circumstances for which paper testing is needed.

No action needs to be taken if school site(s) will administer computer-based assessments in Spring 2026.

The following Special Paper Version (SPV) test formats are available to meet the needs of students who cannot access the test content through computer-based testing: braille, large print, and regular print paper.

SPV test requests must be submitted to ADE for review and approval September 10, 2025 - February 6, 2026.

2025-2026 Special Paper Version Quick Guide

2025-2026 Special Paper Version Request Form

 

Arizona Accommodations Manual

ADE Exceptional Student Services

Additional Accommodation Requests must be submitted to ADE for review and approval September 10, 2025 - February 6, 2026.

 

2025-2026 Additional Accommodations Request Quick Guide

2025-2026 Additional Accommodations Request Form

 

Arizona Accommodations Manual

ADE Exceptional Student Services

AASA Sample Tests and Student Readiness Tool

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

 

Scoring Guides for Sample Tests

ELA

 

 

 

Math

 

Sample Test Examples for Paper-Based Testing

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

Recommended Seating Arrangements

Spring 2026 AASA District Test Coordinator Important Tasks Checklist

Spring 2026 AASA Test Coordinator's Manual

AASA Spring 2026 Test Administration Directions (for Computer-Based Testing)

AASA Spring 2026 Test Administration Directions (for Paper-Based Testing)

Spring 2026 AASA and AzSCI PearsonAccessnext User's Guide

 

PearsonAccessnext

AASA ELA Blueprints - Updated March 6, 2026

AASA Math Blueprints

AASA Cut Scores

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

ELA Item Specifications

 

Math Item Specifications

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

ELA

 

Math

AASA Writing Resources - Descriptions

Writing Rubrics

 

Writing Guides

 

Writing Rubric Guides

 

Annotated Writing Samples Guides

 

Writing Prompt Templates

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

 

Read-Aloud Guidance for Paper-Based Testing

 

Read-Aloud Guidance for Paper-Based Testing

AASA Spring 2026

May 15, 2026 - Electronic score reports, Student Data Files, and OnDemand Reports for Grade 3 ELA and Math are available in PearsonAccessnext

May 22, 2026 - Electronic score reports, Student Data Files, and OnDemand Reports for Grades 4-8 ELA and Math are available in PearsonAccessnext

May 29, 2026 - AASA Summary Cluster Performance Reports for Grades 3-8 ELA and Math are available in PearsonAccessnext

June 10, 2026 - The optional AASA Parent Portal will be available for parents to access their student's Individual Student Report. Schools that opt to participate must provide families with a claim code from PearsonAccessnext for them to access the AASA Parent Portal.

June 11, 2026 - Paper copies of score reports are delivered to districts and charters

June 12, 2026 - Performance Level Dashboards and Historical Student Data for Grades 3-8 ELA and Math are available in PearsonAccessnext

 

Spring 2026 AASA Student Data File Layout

 

AASA Reporting Guide

Spring 2026 Reportable Clusters

AASA Family Report Guide (English & Spanish)

AASA Parent Portal User Guide

AASA Parent Portal User Guide (Spanish)

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