An Alternate Assessment on Alternate Academic Achievement Standards (AA-AAAS) is an assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities who are assessed against alternate achievement standards as they are unable to participate in the general assessment program even with appropriate accommodations.
The South Carolina Alternate Assessment (SC-Alt) is an online computer-adaptive assessment that delivers all alternate assessment tests, including in ELA and Math in grades 3-8; Science in grades 4 and 6; and High School End-of-Course tests in English 2, Algebra 1, Biology 1, and U.S. History and the Constitution. The SC-Alt is administered to students who’s Individualized Education Program (IEP) team decides they meet the participation guidelines for alternate assessment using the Guidance for IEP Teams on Determining Participation in the SC-Alt

Student Participation and Eligibility Criteria

To participate in an Alternate Assessment based on Alternate Academic Achievement Standards (AA-AAAS) a student must meet all the following criteria:

• Demonstrate a significant cognitive disability and adaptive skill deficits, which result in performance that is substantially below grade-level achievement expectations even with the use of accommodations and modifications.
• Access the state approved curriculum standards at less complex levels and with extensively modified instruction;
• Possess current adaptive skills requiring extensive direct instruction and practice in multiple settings to accomplish the application and transfer of skills necessary for application in school, work, home and community environments;
• Be unable to apply or use academic skills across natural settings when instructed solely or primarily through classroom instruction; and
• The inability to achieve the state grade-level achievement expectations is not the result of excessive or extended absences or social, cultural, or economic differences. .

Guidance for IEP Teams on Determining Participation in SC-Alt Assessments

For guidance on determining participation in SC-Alt Assessments, please refer to the document linked below.

• Guidance for IEP (Individualized Education Program) Teams on Determining Participation in the SC-Alt
• Initial Determination of Eligibility for Alternate Assessment (Appendix A) Fillable Form
• Review of Eligibility for Alternate Assessment (Appendix B) Fillable Form
• Alternate ACCESS Participation for Kindergarten - Grade 2 (Appendix C) Fillable Form

Alternate Academic Achievement Standards Blueprints

• SC Alt ELA External BP_2024
• SC Alt Math External BP_2025
• SC Alt Science External BP_2023

Alternate Academic Achievement Standards

• SC Alt Alternate Academic Achievement Standards
• ELA Alternate Academic Achievement Standards (AAAS)

2025-26 Test Administration Key Dates for SC-Alt Online

Precode Data Collection: November 12, 2025
TIDE Go-Live: November 28, 2025
DTC-Alt Training: December 3, 2025
Spring LCI Go-Live: February 9, 2026-April 17, 2026
Test Window: March 2, 2026-April 17, 2026 
 

How Performance Levels Are Reported 

Performance levels are reported as Level 1 (Foundational), Level 2 (Emerging), Level 3 (Meets), and Level 4 (Exceeds).

When Results Are Reported

• Districts will be able to view and download data files of students through the Centralized Reporting System located in the SC-Alt Portal typically in July.
• Two copies of the individual student reports are typically shipped to the district in August

How Results Are Used

Achievement level scores and performance level scores are provided. Performance levels 3 and 4 are the performance levels designated as proficient for federal accountability calculations.

SC-Alt Portal

For resources for the South Carolina Alternate Assessment, visit the SC-Alt Portal.