Alternate statewide assessments are available for the 2026-27 school year for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities as an alternative to participating in the DC CAPE Next and WIDA ACCESS assessments.
For more information on the District’s alternate assessments, visit OSSE's webpage.
Eligibility for participation in any alternate assessment for the 2026-27 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.
The following documents will assist IEP Teams to determine eligibility for DC Alternate Assessments.
- 2026-27 Alternate Assessment Eligibility Process Memo
- Updated 2023 Office of the State Superintendent of Education Guidance: Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities
- Participation Criteria
- 2025-26 Alternate Assessment Eligibility Training
For technical assistance with the Alternate Assessment MSAA Quickbase application or Qlik, contact your LEA Data Liaison.
Timeline for the Alternate Assessment Eligibility Process for the 2026-27 School Year
| Who |
Task |
Timeline |
System |
| LEA |
Add or update documentation for alternate assessment application |
Start of School Year – Oct. 15, 2026 |
Special Programs Database |
| LEA | View the roster of students with alternate assessment applications on file | Sept. 30 – Oct. 15, 2026 | Alternate Assessment Quickbase Application |
| LEA | Final deadline to update alternate assessment application and supporting documentation | Oct. 15, 2026 | Special Programs Database |
| OSSE | Reviews applications and supporting documentation for eligibility determinations | Oct. 16 – Nov. 19, 2026 | Special Programs Database |
| OSSE | Initial eligibility determinations available to LEAs | Nov. 20, 2026 | Alternate Assessment Quickbase Application |
| LEA | Final deadline for late applications | Nov. 20, 2026 | Special Programs Database |
| LEA | LEAs may appeal initial eligibility determinations in Quickbase and submit additional evidence in Special Programs | Nov. 23 - Dec. 4, 2026 |
Alternate Assessment Quickbase Application; Special Programs Database |
| OSSE | Reviews appeal documentation and eligibility applications for transfer students or students who have new disability determinations | Dec. 8, 2026 – Jan. 6, 2027 |
Alternate Assessment Quickbase Application; Special Programs Database |
| OSSE | Final Eligibility Determinations available to LEAs | Jan. 7, 2027 | Alternate Assessment Quickbase Application |
| LEA | No changes to assessment roster after this date | March 29, 2027 |
For general questions about participation criteria or eligibility determinations, please contact [email protected]. Questions or guidance about specific students should be submitted via an OSSE Support Tool (OST) ticket in order to protect student personally identifiable information.
Archive
2023-24 Alternate Assessment Participation Criteria and Forms
2024-25 Alternate Assessment Participation Criteria and Forms
2025-26 Alternate Assessment Participation Criteria and Forms