Educator Resources

 

New Resource: A Guide to Arizona's Statewide Assessments

2025-2026 Achievement Tests Staff Security Agreement

 

 

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

 

AASA

Arizona's Academic Standards Assessment (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.

English Language Arts and Math Essential Standards

 

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

 

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

AASA Spring 2026 Test Coordinator's Manual

Spring 2026 PearsonAccessnext User's Guide

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

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

Achievement Assessments Accommodations Manual

 

AASA ELA Blueprints - Updated March 6, 2026

AASA Math Blueprints

AASA Cut Scores

ELA Item Specifications

 

Math Item Specifications

 

These PLDs are aligned to the 2016 English Language Arts Standards 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.

 

ELA

 

Read-Aloud Guidance for Paper-Based Testing

Math

 

Read-Aloud Guidance for Paper-Based Testing 

ACT Aspire

ACT Aspire is the statewide high school achievement test administered to Arizona public school students in Grade 9/Cohort 2029 in Spring 2026.

 

Spring 2026 Testing

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

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

ACT Aspire Exemplars and Tutorial - login information is not required

  • To access Exemplars, scroll to the bottom of the screen and select "Exemplars." Next, select the content area, followed by the Exemplar for "Early High School Grade 9 & 10."
  • Online Exemplars are intended to provide students with experience navigating TestNav and interacting with the various test item formats. The online Exemplars are not meant to be scored, and a full answer key is not provided.

 

Exemplar Booklets - Each booklet describes reporting categories, standards, depth-of-knowledge levels, and correct responses.

Test Coordinator Manual

Room Supervisor Manual - Online Testing

Room Supervisor Manual - Paper Testing

Accessibility Supports Guide


 

AZ State Standards Alignment Guide for ACT and ACT Aspire

Arizona Alignment Matrix

ACT Calculator Policy

  • The ACT Aspire has been removed from ACT's Calculator Policy document, but the policy will apply to Arizona's administration of ACT Aspire for Grade 9 students.

 

ACT Aspire Technical Readiness Guide

ACT Aspire Technical Manual

K-12 Academic Standards

 

AzSCI

AzSCI, Arizona's statewide achievement test for Science, is administered to public school students in Grade 5 (covering domains from Grades 3/4/5 standards), Grade 8 (covering domains from Grades 6/7/8 standards), and Grade 11/Cohort 2027 (covering domains from high school standards) in Spring 2026.

 

 

Spring 2026 Testing

March 16 – April 10, 2026

 

AzSCI Sample Tests and Student Readiness Tool 

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

 

Scoring Guides for Sample Tests - Revised January 2026

Recommended Seating Arrangements

AzSCI Spring 2026 Test Coordinator's Manual

AzSCI Spring 2026 Test Administration Directions

Spring 2026 PearsonAccessnext User's Guide

Achievement Assessments Accommodations Manual

 

AzSCI Blueprints - Updated March 6, 2026

AzSCI Cut Scores

 

 

 

 

ACT

ACT is the statewide high school achievement test administered to Arizona public school students in Grade 11/Cohort 2027 in Spring 2026.

 

Spring 2026 Testing

ACT Test Window 1

  • Paper (Standard): March 24, 2026
  • Paper (Accommodations): March 24-27 and March 30-April 3, 2026
  • Online (Standard & Accommodations): March 24-27 and March 30-April 3, 2026

 

ACT Test Window 2

  • Paper (Standard): April 7, 2026
  • Paper (Accommodations): April 7-10 and April 13-17, 2026
  • Online (Standard & Accommodations): April 7-10 and April 13-17, 2026

 

For Spring 2026, schools may utilize both published state ACT test windows in order to assess all Cohort 2027 students. Schools are encouraged to administer the ACT during the first test window and to use the second test window, as needed, to complete any makeup testing. Schools administering ACT on paper may also use the online test dates for makeup testing. Any schools that choose to administer the ACT during only the second test window will not have an additional ACT test window to use for makeup testing.

Achievement District Test Coordinators must select the ACT test window for each school in ACT's PearsonAccessnext platform in November 2025.

ACT's Test Enhancements Website

Comparison of the Legacy and Enhanced ACT Test

Enhanced ACT Practice Test

To access the ACT Test Coordinator Manual, Test Administration Manuals, and Test Administration Forms, visit the ACT-hosted website for Arizona, Step 5: Administration.

 

Accessibility Supports Guide

  • For additional ACT accessibility resources, visit the ACT-hosted website for Arizona, Step 3: Accommodation

AZ State Standards Alignment Guide for ACT and ACT Aspire

Arizona Alignment Matrix 

ACT Calculator Policy

Free ACT Test Prep

MyACT Resources

ACT Technical Manual

Writing - Sample Essays

Writing - Scoring Rubric