Links for Academic Learning (LAL): A Conceptual Model for Investigating Alignment of Alternate Assessments Based on Alternate Achievement Standards

This article describes an alignment procedure, called Links for Academic Learning (LAL), for examining the degree of alignment of alternate assessments based on alternate achievement standards (AA-AAS) to grade-level content standards and instruction. Although some of the alignment criteria are similar to those used in general education assessments, modifications to these criteria as well as additional unique criteria are incorporated because of the needs of the students with significant cognitive disabilities. This article addresses the alignment challenges that are specific to AA-AAS, the rationale for the LAL alignment criteria, and a description of how the criteria are measured.