Alternate districtwide assessments are available for the 2024-25 school year for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities as an alternative to participating in the DC CAPE and ACCESS assessments. All District of Columbia students participate in District-wide assessments in one of three ways:
- The general assessment
- The general assessment with accommodation
- The alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards (AA-AAS)
Eligibility for participation in any alternate assessment for the 2024-25 school year begins with LEAs completing the appropriate documentation in the Special Programs database. During the IEP development process, or through an IEP amendment, Individualized Education Program (IEP) teams are to carefully review the OSSE’s participation criteria to identify individual students for whom it may be most appropriate to participate in the alternate assessment program.
Timeline for the Alternate Assessment Eligibility Process for the 2024-25 School Year
|
Task |
Deadline |
System |
|
LEAs add or update documentation for alternate assessment applications in the Special Programs database. For OSSE to review eligibility, a student must have the following in the Special Programs database for the 2024-25 school year:
|
Aug. 26, - Oct. 10, 2024 |
Special Programs Database |
|
LEAs can view the students who have alternate assessment applications in the Special Programs database through the Quickbase and Qlik applications. |
Sept. 27 - Oct. 4, 2024 |
Quickbase
Qlik
|
|
Final deadline for LEAs updating alternate assessment eligibility documentation in the Special Programs database for the 2024-25 school year. *Any applications submitted after will be marked with a Late Flag starting Oct. 11 |
Oct. 10, 2024 |
Special Programs Database |
|
OSSE reviews documentation in the Special Programs database for students requesting eligibility for alternate assessments in the 2024-25 school year. |
Oct. 11- Nov. 15, 2024 |
Special Programs Database |
|
OSSE sends eligibility determinations to LEAs in the Special Programs database. |
Nov. 18, 2024 |
Special Programs Database |
|
LEAs may appeal eligibility determinations in Quickbase and in most cases will need to submit additional evidence that supports the appeal to OSSE in the Special Programs database. *Please see the additional notes column in determination section for more information As a rare exception, LEAs may submit new eligibility applications after the application window, only for transfer students or students who have new disability determinations. |
Nov. 18 - Dec. 6, 2024 |
Quickbase Special Programs Database |
| LEAs receive final eligibility determinations from OSSE in the Special Programs database. | Jan. 6, 2025 | Special Programs Database |
For more information and guidance for IEP teams on alternate assessment participation, please contact OSSE.Assessment@dc.gov. For technical assistance with the Alternate Assessment MSAA Quickbase application or Qlik, contact your LEA Data Liaison.
The following documents will assist IEP Teams to determine eligibility for DC Alternate Assessments.
- Updated 2023 Office of the State Superintendent of Education Guidance: Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities
- Participation Criteria Form
For questions about participation criteria or eligibility determinations, please contact OSSE.Assessment@dc.gov..
Archive
2022-23 Alternate Assessment Participation Criteria and Forms
2023-24 Alternate Assessment Participation Criteria and Forms
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2024-25 Alternate Assessment Eligibility Process Memo - 404.7 KB (pdf)