Raising academic standards for all students and measuring student achievement to hold schools accountable for educational progress are central strategies for promoting educational excellence and equity in our Nation's schools. The Elementary and Secondary Education Act (ESEA) supports State efforts to establish challenging standards, develop aligned assessments, and build accountability systems for districts and schools that are based on educational results. In particular, ESEA includes explicit requirements to ensure that students served by Title I are given the same opportunity to achieve to high standards and are held to the same high expectations as all other students in each State.

• A State’s Guide to the U.S. Department of Education’s Assessment Peer Review Process (September 24, 2018) PDF (736 KB)
• Academic Assessment Peer Review Cover Sheet and Index Submission Template (October 3, 2018) (Word) (887KB)
• ELP Assessment Peer Review Cover Sheet and Index Submission Template (October 3, 2018) (Word) (783KB)
• State English Language Proficiency (ELP) Assessment Peer Review Webinar (January 31, 2019). An webinar was offered January 30 and repeated on January 31, 2019. The webinar was aimed at providing specific information about the upcoming ELP assessment peer review for States preparing submissions of evidence.
  • Link to archive recording of webinar (January 31, 2019).
  • Webinar PPT Slide (PDF)
  • Webinar Q and A Summary (PDF)
• State Academic Assessment Peer Review Webinar (October 17, 2019). The webinar was aimed at providing specific information about the upcoming assessment peer review for States preparing submissions of evidence.
• Link to archive recording of webinar (October 17, 2019)
• Webinar PPT Slide (PDF)
• Assessment Peer Review Seminar (August 1 and 2, 2018). An assessment peer review seminar was held in Washington, DC on August 1 and 2, 2018. The seminar was focused on the updated guide for State Assessment Peer review, including the peer review of English Language Proficiency (ELP) assessments. Panel discussions that involved assessment experts (including many assessment peer reviewers) on a variety of salient topics were held. A complete summary of the seminar materials, including handouts, summary notes, participant list and video of all sessions are available at this link.
• Memo to States Regarding an Update on the Assessment Peer Review Process for 2018-2019 (October 9, 2018) PDF (208 KB)
• Letter to State Assessment Directors Regarding Assessment Peer Review Information (January 6, 2017) PDF (253 KB)

• Letter to Chief State School Officers Regarding Assessment Peer Review Outcomes (October 6, 2016) PDF (163 KB)

• Letter to Chief State School Officers Regarding Assessing Speaking and Listening (March 2, 2016) PDF (286 KB)
  • Template for State Request for Speaking and Listening Waiver (March 2, 2016) WORD (30 KB)

• Call for Experts to Serve as Peer Reviewers
  • Peer submission checklist and conflict of interest form MS WORD (36 KB)

• Decision Letters on State Final Assessment Systems Under Title I of ESEA as amended by the No Child Left Behind Act

• Decision Letters on State Final Assessment Systems Under Title I of ESEA as amended by the Improving America's Schools Act of 1994

• Alternate Achievement Standards for Students with the Most Significant Cognitive Disabilities Non-Regulatory Guidance (August 2005) MS WORD (810K)
• Memo to States Regarding the Cap on the Percentage of Students who may be Assessed with an Alternate Assessment (May 16, 2017) PDF (256 KB)
• Memo to States with Additional Information Regarding the Cap on the Percentage of Students Who May Be Assessed with an Alternate Assessment (August 27, 2018) (PDF) (270 KB)
• Memo to States Regarding Consequences for States Not Meeting the Requirement to Assess Not More than 1.0 Percent of Students on the Alternate Assessment (March 28, 2019) (PDF) (277 KB)

• Guidance on Regulations Regarding Assessment and Accountability for Recently Arrived and Former Limited English Proficient (LEP) Students (May 2007) MS WORD (704K)
• Memo to States Regarding English Language Proficiency Assessments (June 28, 2017) PDF (217 KB)

• State and Local Report Cards, Non-Regulatory Guidance (February 8, 2013) PDF

• High School Graduation Rate Non-Regulatory Guidance (December 22, 2008) PDF
• Improving Data Quaility for Title I Standards, Assessments, and Accountability Reporting Guidelines For States, LEAs, and Schools Non-Regulatory Guidance (April 2006) PDF (410KB)
• Final Regulations to No Longer Authorize Modified Academic Achievement Standards for Certain Students with Disabilities(August 21, 2015)
• Memo to States Regarding the Requirements for Locally Selected, Nationally Recognized High School Assessments (May 15, 2017) PDF (195 KB)

• Secretary’s Letter on Test Security (June 24, 2011)
• Testing Integrity Symposium (February 28, 2012)

• ESEA Consolidated State plans

• Innovative Assessment Demonstration Authority
• Guidance to States on How Federal Funds can Support Reducing Over-Testing (February 2, 2016)
• Case studies of states and districts addressing overtesting
• Report: Testing Action Plan State and District Profiles (April 15, 2016)
• Competitive Grants for State Assessments
• Improving Basic Programs Operated by Local Educational Agencies (Title I, Part A)
• Race to the Top Assessment Program
• ESEA Flexibility
• English Language Acquisition State Grants (Title III)

Waivers granted to States from requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

These are ED responses to State requests for waivers from requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act.

• Assessment Waivers