This page contains information about the DC CAPE 2.0 assessments that will be administered beginning in the 2026-27 school year. For information on the current DC CAPE assessments, visit osse.dc.gov/dccape.
The District of Columbia Comprehensive Assessments of Progress in Education (DC CAPE) is the District’s general statewide assessment system, which includes assessments in English language arts/literacy (ELA), mathematics and science. Together, these assessments create a comprehensive system that provides important information on students’ progress and proficiency relative to the District’s educational standards.
Over the past couple of years, the Office of the State Superintendent of Education (OSSE) has solicited feedback from local education agency (LEA) stakeholders on the future of the DC CAPE assessment system. We have heard what is working and what changes would make the assessments more meaningful for DC educators and students. As we look ahead, OSSE is excited to announce that the District of Columbia has joined the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium to launch DC CAPE 2.0, the next generation of DC CAPE in ELA and math.
OSSE will also implement changes to the DC CAPE science assessment design, reducing the number of constructed response items and assessment sections. This transition in our statewide assessments is reflective of the input of DC educators—reducing testing time, increasing accessibility for students, and strengthening feedback mechanisms to better use assessments to inform instructional decisions.
The DC CAPE 2.0 assessments will launch in the 2026-27 school year, with the first administration in spring 2027. The spring 2026 DC CAPE assessments will follow the same design and structure that have been used in the District for the past several years. The 2027 DC CAPE 2.0 assessments will still be aligned to the District’s educational standards, which have not changed.
The Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA) in ELA and math and the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) Assessment in science will continue to be the District’s statewide alternate assessments for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.
Why Smarter Balanced?
The District’s partnership with Smarter Balanced will provide flexibility within a consortium model, allowing us to partner with other states to develop high-quality assessment content, while maintaining the ability to tailor the assessments to reflect the District’s expectations and priorities for our students. DC CAPE 2.0 will bring many benefits for students and educators. The ELA and math assessments will use a computer-adaptive design, which not only reduces overall testing time, but also allows every student to have an assessment experience tailored to them. The ELA and math assessment will also have a wider range of accommodations and accessibility features to meet the needs of students across the District. Smarter Balanced membership will also provide new, free instructional tools aligned to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).
Updates to Test Design
DC CAPE assessments are computer-based assessments that allow for the use of a variety of innovative item types where students can apply critical-thinking skills to demonstrate their understanding of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) in ELA and math, and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) in science. DC CAPE high school assessments are end-of-course assessments. End-of-course assessments refer to summative assessments designed to be administered at the conclusion of a course, such as Algebra I, instead of at the end of a grade level.
DC CAPE 2.0 will be assessed in the following grades and subjects:
- DC ELA: Grades 3-8, ELA I and ELA II
- DC Math: Grades 3-8, Algebra I and Geometry
- DC Science: Grades 5, 8, and high school Biology
OSSE will no longer produce an Algebra II assessment for high school mathematics. The current Algebra II assessment is required only for students who complete Geometry prior to grade 9, approximately 120 District students annually. The discontinuation of Algebra II has no impact on the federally mandated Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) state plan.
Interim Assessments
Interim assessments are optional tests administered throughout the year to help teachers monitor student progress and be able to choose the right assessment at the right time. The assessments provide educators with actionable data about student knowledge and abilities to help teachers target instruction to meet students’ individual learning needs. Interim items include all the accessibility resources available in the summative assessment to help provide accurate results for students.
Tools for Teachers
Tools for Teachers contains teacher-created lessons and activities to enhance instruction, save time in lesson planning, and boost student learning. These formative assessment resources include accessibility and instructional strategies that are effective across different grades and content areas.
Practice Tests and Tutorials
Resources are currently being developed to empower students, families and educators to experience computer-based format, item types, and technology features on the DC CAPE assessments. While OSSE works to develop a secure and reliable platform, stakeholders can preview a variety of SBAC tools and resources on the SBAC member webpage.
Updates to Assessment Reporting and Accountability
Currently, students' DC CAPE ELA and math scores fall into one of five performance levels, each describing how well the student met the expectations for their grade level/course:
- Level 1: Did Not Yet Meet Expectations
- Level 2: Partially Met Expectations
- Level 3: Approached Expectations
- Level 4: Met Expectations
- Level 5: Exceeded Expectations
Levels 4 and 5 indicate students are proficient and on track for the next grade level and to leave high school college and career ready. Students at Level 3 are approaching expectations and have much of the skills necessary to be successful in future grades and in post-secondary pathways.
DC CAPE 2.0 ELA and math assessments will be reported according to four performance levels, rather than the current five levels. The DC science assessment is already reported on four performance levels. For all assessments, level 3 performance will indicate that a student has met grade-level expectations.
While the transition to DC CAPE 2.0 will mean that student-level scores will not be able to be compared directly between 2026 and 2027, OSSE will work with our vendors to conduct research to understand year-over-year achievement trends at the citywide level. We will also engage with stakeholders throughout the transition to provide additional information on the impact to statewide accountability metrics and processes.
Smarter Balanced Resources
OSSE has developed the Transitioning to DC CAPE 2.0: Smarter Balanced Background Resources document to assist with the transition to DC CAPE 2.0. This document lists a number of publicly available resources that provide detailed information about the Smarter Balanced assessment system to help educators understand some of the key features of the system, including summative and interim assessment blueprints, assessment claims, achievement level descriptors, and sample items at each grade level.
Transitioning to DC CAPE 2.0: Smarter Balanced Background Resources
Staying Connected and Engagement Opportunities
OSSE understands that LEAs, educators, and families may have question regarding the DC CAPE assessment changes. We invite LEAs and their communities to email [email protected] with questions and concerns.
OSSE will routinely publish answers to frequently submitted questions as more information becomes available. Below is the most recent version of this FAQ document.
Coming soon.
Service Contact: OSSE Office of Assessment
Email: [email protected]
Office Hours: Monday to Friday, 8 a.m.-5 p.m.
Service Location: 1050 First St., NE, 4th Floor