Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM)
2025-26 Assessment Window: March 9 – April 24, 2026

Assessment Description and History
The Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) assessment is the District of Columbia’s statewide alternate assessment of the Essential Elements (EEs) for science. The EEs are grade-level specific expectations about what students with the most significant cognitive disabilities should know and be able to do. The DLM assessment serves the small proportion of the student population with significant cognitive disabilities and allows for multiple ways for those students to demonstrate their knowledge, skills and understanding in science. It is administered in grades 5, 8, and high school Biology to those students eligible to take alternate assessments.

Test Design
The DLM assessment is composed of either 9 (grades 5 and 8) or 10 (high school Biology) individual testlets. Testlets are short assessments that are taken one at a time across multiple testing sessions. Each testlet begins with an engagement activity followed by 3-9 multiple-choice items aligned to only one EE. To better understand the structure and content of the assessment, please refer to the DLM Science Assessment Blueprint.

Assessment Results
OSSE has posted public results from the 2024-25 DLM Science assessment online. The data files provide aggregate state-, sector-, and school-level results. Resources for educators and parents are also available.

An overview of the 2024-25 DLM Science results can be found here (coming December 2025).

Additionally, the DC School Report Card gives families a look into all public schools in the District of Columbia.

For archival results, please contact [email protected].

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