Each year, Delaware districts and charter schools must submit data to the Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) identifying the percentage of their students participating in statewide alternate assessments. Alternate assessments are tests for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) requires that no more than 1 percent of the total number of students in the state be administered alternate assessments. The goal of this 1 percent threshold is to mitigate disproportionality concerns related to the possible over identification of students participating in statewide alternate assessments.
Districts and charters are not prohibited from assessing more than 1 percent of their students with alternate assessments, but they are required to submit justification demonstrating this need. DDOE collects, publicizes and federally reports this justification. Within 90 days prior to the opening of the state’s first testing window, DDOE submits a waiver request to the federal government to exceed the 1 percent threshold. Additionally, DDOE works with districts and charters to provide any needed support.
Resources for Parents
- Alternate assessment family guide
- What families need to know about statewide assessment accessibility support
- DeSSA-Alt fact sheet
- Delaware high school diploma vs Diploma of Alternate Achievement Standards
Waiver Request Submissions
Title 1 of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act of 1965 (ESEA), as amended by ESSA modifies the provision that students with the most significant cognitive disabilities may participate in alternate assessment based on alternate academic achievement standards. ESSA places a 1.0 percent cap on the number of students who may participate in alternate assessments. States that anticipate exceeding the 1.0 percent cap must submit a waiver request to the U.S. Department of Education.
Note: Please use the Decision-Making Tool as a resource.
2024-2025 Submission
U.S. Department of Education Response – On November 13, 2024, Delaware was granted a waiver request for reading/language arts. The state was not granted a waiver for math and science, as DDOE did not assess at least 95 percent of all students with disabilities for the 2024 test administration.
2023-2024 Submission
- Delaware Waiver Request 2023-2024
- Justification Form 2023-2024
- Justification Form – Compiled Report 2023-2024, to review the justification form for a particular LEA, please contact the Office of Assessment & Accountability
- Alternate Assessment IEP Review Self-Evaluation form
- Tier 2 Subgroup Data Report form
- District Charter Self-Assessment Review Summary Report
2022-2023 Submission
Delaware submitted a Waiver Request on July 15, 2022 and amended August 23, 2022. The waiver was sent out for Public Comment on July 6, 2022.
USED Response – January 25, 2023 – Delaware’s Waiver Request was denied as DDOE did not assess at least 95 percent of all students in science or mathematics nor did it assess at least 95 percent of students with disabilities in ELA, mathematics and science during the 2021-2022 school year.
