The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) allows for states to apply for a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education if they think they will exceed the 1% cap on alternate assessment participation for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. However, in order for a state to receive a waiver, it must meet the ESSA requirement that 95 percent of all students, as well as 95 percent of students with disabilities, participated in accountability assessments. For states wanting to improve student assessment rates, NCEO published two new companion resources. They are Developing an Assessment Participation Action Plan: A Tool for State Leaders (NCEO Tool #13) and Developing an Assessment Participation Action Plan: A Tool for District Leaders (NCEO Tool #14).

These customizable tools, also available as Microsoft Word documents, provide a series of steps for state and district education leaders to develop assessment participation action plans aimed at increasing participation rates. The steps include: (a) form teams for designing, implementing, monitoring, and evaluating the action plan; (b) collect and analyze data on assessment participation; (c) compile contextual information; (d) identify challenges to reaching 95 percent participation; (e) design and implement action plan steps; (f) monitor implementation of the plan; and (g) evaluate the plan. Both tools can be used to review assessment participation data, engage in data analyses, and support the design of action plans that address students’ assessment participation. After reviewing data and engaging with stakeholder groups, state and district leaders will be equipped to support their districts and schools in developing action plans that are reflective of their unique contexts.