Year one of the project will involve the design, development, and user acceptance of the computer-based and computer adaptive assessment systems. These systems will be designed according to best practices in software development and psychometric standards and with ongoing feedback from stakeholders. The computer-based functionality will allow for large-scale field-testing of newly created items to obtain individual student responses. Computer-based field-testing of items in core subjects at a number of grades between 1 and 9 will be available. Detailed reports will be produced to provide feedback to students and teachers regarding areas of strength and weakness.

Year two will introduce the computer adaptive assessment aspects of the Alberta CAA system in specific core subject areas and grades (e.g., the courses and grades that were field-tested in year one). The number of grades and courses available for field-testing will be expanded in year two in order to facilitate more courses and grades. Ongoing large-scale item development involving Alberta teachers will populate the substantial item banks required for field-testing. Feedback from stakeholders in year one will be used to make improvements to the Alberta CAA system.

Year three will further expand the number of grades and courses so that assessment can occur at any grade from elementary to high school in the core subject areas of Mathematics, English Language Arts, Social Studies, and Science.