NJDOE Announces Changes to Eligibility Categories for Participation in the Alternate Assessment, Effective Spring 2026

The New Jersey Department of Education recently issued an advisory noting that all students, including students with disabilities, must take statewide assessments.

The Every Student Succeeds Act allows for the use of alternate assessments based on alternate achievement standards for students with the most significant intellectual disabilities. Students with the most significant intellectual disabilities who meet the participation criteria will be administered the Dynamic Learning Maps  alternate assessment. Effective for the spring 2026 assessment, revisions have been made to the eligibility criteria for students with disabilities participating in the alternate assessment. These changes are designed to ensure that only students with the most significant intellectual disabilities participate in the alternate assessment.

As the DLM is appropriate only for students with significant intellectual disabilities, beginning with the spring 2026 administration, students eligible for special education and related services under the eligibility categories of specific learning disability, emotional regulation impairment, auditorily impaired, orthopedic impairment, and speech or language impairment are not eligible to participate in the DLM assessment. These students must instead be administered the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment or New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment, with appropriate accommodations and accessibility features.

This change aligns with Sections 34 CFR 300.309(a)(3)(i) and (ii) and 300.8(c)(4)(i) of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act’s implementing regulations, which require that intellectual factors or impairments be ruled out in order for a student to qualify for special education services under the categories of specific learning disability or emotional regulation impairment. Additionally, the categories of auditorily impaired, orthopedic impairment, and speech or language impairment do not have an intellectual factor or impairment associated with them. Therefore, students that fall under these eligibility categories are not eligible for the DLM.

Students who are eligible for special education under the following eligibility categories may be eligible to participate in the DLM assessment:

The DLM participation criteria for the 2025-2026 school year has been revised and is available on the New Jersey Dynamic Learning Maps Resources website. The DLM Participation Criteria Updates webinar offers a detailed overview of the revised eligibility categories, provides comprehensive explanations of the changes, and thoroughly reviews the participation criteria in its entirety. This webinar is designed to ensure that all professionals involved in determining participation in the alternate assessment, including child study team members, district test coordinators, special education directors, teachers, administrators and other relevant staff, have access to the information needed for an appropriate determination.

For more information or for questions regarding the alternate assessment, please contact the Office of Special Education via email.