APA

~ Definition of an APA?

APA stands for Alternate Proficiency Assessment and is a portfolio assessment designed to measure a students progress toward achieving state standards.

~ Who participates?

Students with disabilities who are unable to participate in standard state assessments participate in the APA. These students are generally identified by the child study team.

~ What is an APA portfolio?

An APA portfolio is a collection of student work and educational information (evidence) that relates to the student's progress relating to specific state standards.

~ What is evidence?

Evidence is student data and work samples that represent the student's progress toward a specific target skill related to a standard.

~ What is the alternative assessment process?

Provides opportunities for the student to learn and practice new skills, open ended, with a focus on inquiry, alone or with small groups.
Provides opportunities to demonstrate skills already learned through school or life experiences, performance based.
Provides opportunities to make meaningful choices and use information in context that is relevant to them during learning activities.
Allows for investigation, cooperative learning, and opportunity to determine one's own learning style.
Allows for multiple personnel to be involved, interactive.
Provides opportunity to be used as a tool to guide learning and instructing rather than simply gathering test results.
Does not provide single scores for comparative reasons.