Michigan Department of Education Survey

Proposed Michigan's 1% Alternative Cap Waiver Request

MDE once again plans on applying for a waiver from the U.S. Department of Education, to test more than 1% of students with MI-Access, Michigan’s alternate assessment based on alternate educational standards designed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. This waiver request is permitted by Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and is used to help provide information to the U.S. Department of Education on Michigan’s effort to meet the ESSA requirement that no more than 1% of students are assessed using an alternate assessment.

1.Please share your comments regarding MDE applying again this year for a waiver to the ESSA 1% cap on alternate assessments.

This waiver request includes a plan to work with both Intermediate School Districts and Local Education Agencies to ensure only students with the most significant cognitive disabilities are taking this assessment and includes a plan to work toward reducing the number and percentage of students taking this assessment. The waiver request outlines our plan for reducing the rate of use of alternate standards for assessments, ensures appropriate use of such standards and assessments for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities, and promotes high expectations in education for all learners. For more details of the actual plan, please see the Requirement 4 section of the waiver.

2.Please share your comments regarding MDE’s plan for reducing the use of alternate assessments and balancing high expectations for students with support needs of students with disabilities.

3.Please share any other comments or thoughts regarding the waiver to test more than 1% of students using alternate standards for instruction and assessment.