All children participate in State accountability assessments. The Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) provides an instructionally relevant system that supports student learning and measures what students with significant cognitive disabilities know and can do.

Students with significant cognitive disabilities will have access to, participate in, and make progress in the general education curricula in compliance with the requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA; 2004) and the Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESSA) as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015. These students may be precluded from taking regular or substitute course offerings as defined in Alaska Regulation 4 AAC 06.078. Alternate assessments designed for these students offer assessments in the same content at the same grade levels as the general content assessments. If a student meets the eligibility criteria, the IEP team may recommend the Alaska Alternate Assessment. It is expected that only a small number (less than one percent) of all students will be eligible to participate in an alternate assessment.  These students may be awarded a certificate of completion or attendance, based on completion of the IEP goals or attendance, rather than a high school diploma. (See 4 AAC 06.790 for definitions.)

The  alternate assessments are based on content standards for English language arts, mathematics, and science called the Alaska Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) Essential Elements. The Essential Elements are aligned to Alaska's content standards, but reduced in complexity, breadth, and depth. The Essential Elements are located on the DLM website.

The alternate achievement standards are achievement level descriptors that are different from the achievement standards for the general education expectations for students with significant cognitive disabilities.

Parents have the right to make educational decisions for their child, including whether to participate in statewide testing.

Copies of student results are distributed to families in early fall following the spring administration of the assessment. State, district, and school results are available to the public on the Department of Education and Early Development website.

Resource:

• Talking to Parents About DLM Score Reports
• Parent Interpretive Guide
• Estimated Student Testing Times