Sped students must participate in statewide assessments or alternative assessments.

• A. False
• B. Only if they have an IEP
• C. True
• D. Only in math and reading

Answer: (C)

All students who receive special education services participate in statewide assessments, either through the standard state test with accommodations or through an alternate assessment aligned to alternate achievement standards when the regular assessment isn’t possible even with accommodations. This requirement comes from federal law and ensures accountability while measuring progress for students with disabilities. The decision to use the alternate assessment is made by the IEP team and applies only to those students who cannot participate in the regular assessment, not as a blanket exemption. It covers the same content areas as the general assessment, not just math and reading, and accommodations are used to remove barriers without changing what the test measures. So the statement is true.