Assessment Homepage
Subjects and Grade Levels
Mathematics / grades 3-8, and 11
English/Language Arts / grades 3-8, and 11
Science / grades 5, 8 and 11
About the test
Dynamic Learning Maps® (DLM®) assessments are designed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities in ELA and Mathematics (grades 3-8 and high school), and in Science (grades 5, 8 and high school) for whom general state assessments are not appropriate, even with accommodations.
Students who take DLM alternate assessments are instructed and assessed on
Essential Elements. Essential Elements are grade-level-specific expectations about what students with the most significant cognitive disabilities should know and be able to do. Essential Elements are related to college- and career-readiness standards for students in the general population and in Science are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS).
DLM – Mathematics, ELA and Science alternate assessments are delivered online on a variety of devices and have an administrative application to manage student information. Students could receive five to 10 testlets in each subject, depending on the grade and subject. Items in the DLM alternate assessment are grouped into testlets.
Standards being assessed
Accessibility and Accommodations information
All appropriate accommodations for an individual child are identified through the IEP team decision-making process. Accommodations to be considered by the IEP team are determined by the DLM partner states and in limited circumstances, a request for a unique accommodation may be made to your local education agency.
Assessment results
DLM Sample Items
Special Education 1% Threshold Information
This justification process is required by federal law to be submitted to the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) when a local education agency anticipates exceeding the one percent threshold limiting the number of participants in an alternate academic assessment for students with significant cognitive disabilities. This information must be made publicly available.