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NYSAA New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA)
Certification Exam COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND DETAILED
SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR-JUST RELEASED
Summarized Exam Coverage – NYSAA Test Administrator Certification
The NYSAA exam is a certification requirement for educators administering the alternate assessment to
students with severe cognitive disabilities. The assessment is delivered by Dynamic Learning Maps
(DLM) and consists of four computer-based training (CBT) modules covering ELA, Mathematics, and
Science. Test Administrators must pass each module with a score of 80% or higher .
Key Coverage Areas:
I. NYSAA Purpose & Eligibility
• What is NYSAA? Why is it administered?
• Who determines eligibility (Committee on Special Education, CSE)
• Eligibility criteria (severe cognitive disabilities, IEP designation)
• The 1% cap on participation and federal requirements
II. The Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) System
• Kite Educator Portal: student management, rostering, testlets
• Testlet structure: engagement activity + 3-9 items
• Adaptive delivery: computer adjusts to individual student ability
• Instructionally Embedded vs. Spring testing windows
III. Essential Elements & Blueprints
• Essential Elements are alternate achievement standards (reduced in depth/breadth)
• Blueprints specify which Essential Elements must be assessed
• Linkage levels (Initial, Precursor, Target, Successor) – progression of skill complexity
• Mini-maps showing pathways between nodes
IV. Test Administration
• Testing windows: Instructionally Embedded (Fall–Winter) and Spring
• Technology requirements: devices with camera, activated Kite accounts
• Datafolio-style documentation (observations, work products, photos, videos)
• First Contact Survey: captures student characteristics to guide test personalization
• Accessibility supports: Braille, language translation
V. Scoring & Reporting
• Scored by DLM (not locally)
• Individual Score Reports for parents
• Scores used for IEP progress tracking, diploma options, educational priorities
VI. Annual Certification & Training
• Required annually for all Test Administrators
• Modules must be completed each school year
• New administrators: full-day training session required
1. The Committee on Special Education (CSE) is reviewing a student's IEP to determine if the student
should take the NYSAA instead of the general state assessment. What is the most critical eligibility factor
the CSE must establish before making this determination?
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A) The student has a documented learning disability in reading
B) The student has severe cognitive disabilities that prevent participation in the general assessment
even with accommodations
C) The student is an English Language Learner (ELL)
D) The student has a physical disability requiring a wheelchair
Answer: B – NYSAA is designed for students with severe cognitive disabilities who cannot participate in
the general state assessment even with accommodations .
2. A teacher is preparing to administer the NYSAA for the first time. Which computer-based platform is
used to deliver the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) alternate assessment?
A) Nextera by Questar
B) KITE Client and KITE Educator Portal
C) Google Classroom
D) Microsoft Teams for Education
Answer: B – The DLM alternate assessment is delivered through the KITE platform, which includes the
KITE Client for testing and the Educator Portal for student and data management .
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3. A 9-year-old student with an IEP has been determined eligible for NYSAA. According to NYSED policy,
when must this student first be assessed?
A) When they turn 9 years old, beginning on their birthday
B) In the school year they become 9 years old through the school year they become 14
C) Only when they reach 5th grade
D) Only at the secondary level, when they turn 17
Answer: B – Students must be assessed once a year beginning in the school year they become 9 years
old, through the school year they become 14 (grade equivalents 3-8). Secondary level is administered
when they become 17-18 .
4. A teacher logs into the KITE Educator Portal. She needs to view which Essential Elements are available
for assessment in ELA at her student's grade level. What document should she consult?
A) The First Contact Survey
B) The ELA Blueprint for New York
C) The Teacher's College Reading and Writing Curriculum Map
D) The NYS P-12 Common Core Learning Standards for general education
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Answer: B – The Blueprint for English Language Arts lists the pool of available Essential Elements and
the requirements for coverage within each conceptual area .
5. An administrator is responsible for ensuring all NYSAA Test Administrators in her building are
certified. How often must a Test Administrator complete training and certification?
A) Once, at the beginning of their career
B) Every year (annually)
C) Every three years
D) Only when the state updates the assessment format
Answer: B – NYSED requires annual certification or recertification for all educators who will be Test
Administrators .
6. A student is taking a science testlet on the KITE platform. The testlet begins with an activity to engage
the student, followed by several questions. What is the correct term for the series of questions that
follow the engagement activity in a testlet?
A) The assessment items
B) The mini-map
C) The First Contact Survey
NYSAA New York State Alternate Assessment (NYSAA)
Certification Exam COMPLETE QUESTIONS AND DETAILED
SOLUTIONS LATEST UPDATE THIS YEAR-JUST RELEASED
Summarized Exam Coverage – NYSAA Test Administrator Certification
The NYSAA exam is a certification requirement for educators administering the alternate assessment to
students with severe cognitive disabilities. The assessment is delivered by Dynamic Learning Maps
(DLM) and consists of four computer-based training (CBT) modules covering ELA, Mathematics, and
Science. Test Administrators must pass each module with a score of 80% or higher .
Key Coverage Areas:
I. NYSAA Purpose & Eligibility
• What is NYSAA? Why is it administered?
• Who determines eligibility (Committee on Special Education, CSE)
• Eligibility criteria (severe cognitive disabilities, IEP designation)
• The 1% cap on participation and federal requirements
II. The Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) System
• Kite Educator Portal: student management, rostering, testlets
• Testlet structure: engagement activity + 3-9 items
• Adaptive delivery: computer adjusts to individual student ability
• Instructionally Embedded vs. Spring testing windows
III. Essential Elements & Blueprints
• Essential Elements are alternate achievement standards (reduced in depth/breadth)
• Blueprints specify which Essential Elements must be assessed
• Linkage levels (Initial, Precursor, Target, Successor) – progression of skill complexity
• Mini-maps showing pathways between nodes
IV. Test Administration
• Testing windows: Instructionally Embedded (Fall–Winter) and Spring
• Technology requirements: devices with camera, activated Kite accounts
• Datafolio-style documentation (observations, work products, photos, videos)
• First Contact Survey: captures student characteristics to guide test personalization
• Accessibility supports: Braille, language translation
V. Scoring & Reporting
• Scored by DLM (not locally)
• Individual Score Reports for parents
• Scores used for IEP progress tracking, diploma options, educational priorities
VI. Annual Certification & Training
• Required annually for all Test Administrators
• Modules must be completed each school year
• New administrators: full-day training session required
1. The Committee on Special Education (CSE) is reviewing a student's IEP to determine if the student
should take the NYSAA instead of the general state assessment. What is the most critical eligibility factor
the CSE must establish before making this determination?
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A) The student has a documented learning disability in reading
B) The student has severe cognitive disabilities that prevent participation in the general assessment
even with accommodations
C) The student is an English Language Learner (ELL)
D) The student has a physical disability requiring a wheelchair
Answer: B – NYSAA is designed for students with severe cognitive disabilities who cannot participate in
the general state assessment even with accommodations .
2. A teacher is preparing to administer the NYSAA for the first time. Which computer-based platform is
used to deliver the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) alternate assessment?
A) Nextera by Questar
B) KITE Client and KITE Educator Portal
C) Google Classroom
D) Microsoft Teams for Education
Answer: B – The DLM alternate assessment is delivered through the KITE platform, which includes the
KITE Client for testing and the Educator Portal for student and data management .
, Page 3 of 85
3. A 9-year-old student with an IEP has been determined eligible for NYSAA. According to NYSED policy,
when must this student first be assessed?
A) When they turn 9 years old, beginning on their birthday
B) In the school year they become 9 years old through the school year they become 14
C) Only when they reach 5th grade
D) Only at the secondary level, when they turn 17
Answer: B – Students must be assessed once a year beginning in the school year they become 9 years
old, through the school year they become 14 (grade equivalents 3-8). Secondary level is administered
when they become 17-18 .
4. A teacher logs into the KITE Educator Portal. She needs to view which Essential Elements are available
for assessment in ELA at her student's grade level. What document should she consult?
A) The First Contact Survey
B) The ELA Blueprint for New York
C) The Teacher's College Reading and Writing Curriculum Map
D) The NYS P-12 Common Core Learning Standards for general education
, Page 4 of 85
Answer: B – The Blueprint for English Language Arts lists the pool of available Essential Elements and
the requirements for coverage within each conceptual area .
5. An administrator is responsible for ensuring all NYSAA Test Administrators in her building are
certified. How often must a Test Administrator complete training and certification?
A) Once, at the beginning of their career
B) Every year (annually)
C) Every three years
D) Only when the state updates the assessment format
Answer: B – NYSED requires annual certification or recertification for all educators who will be Test
Administrators .
6. A student is taking a science testlet on the KITE platform. The testlet begins with an activity to engage
the student, followed by several questions. What is the correct term for the series of questions that
follow the engagement activity in a testlet?
A) The assessment items
B) The mini-map
C) The First Contact Survey
