Florida 1% Cap on Alternate Assessment Participation Waiver

The Elementary and Secondary Education Act, as amended by the Every Student Succeeds Act, places a 1.0% cap on state-level participation rates for students taking the Alternate Assessment – Alternate Academic Achievement Standards (AA-AAAS). Alternate assessments are only allowable for students for whom the individual educational plan team is determined appropriate and who have documented evidence of having the most significant cognitive disabilities as defined in Title 34, section (§) 200.6, Code of Federal Regulations (C.F.R.). States that are projected to exceed the 1.0% cap must submit a waiver to the U.S. Department of Education (USED) identifying the number and percentage of students who will participate in the state’s alternate assessment, all the state content areas affected and a plan with a timeline for evaluating and potentially updating state guidelines for participation in alternate assessments.

The Florida Alternate Assessment (FAA) is Florida’s statewide alternate assessment for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The FAA is fully aligned with the Access Points – Alternate Academic Achievement Standards, which are reflective of Florida’s Benchmarks for Excellent Student Thinking (B.E.S.T.) standards. Florida offers two FAA options: the FAA – Performance Task and FAA – Datafolio, which provide more choices to appropriately meet the needs of all students.

Florida submitted its first 1.0% waiver request in 2019 with 2018-19 alternate assessment participation rates of 1.54% in English language arts (ELA), 1.63% in mathematics and 1.56% in science. Since then, Florida has continuously decreased its FAA participation rates. In the 2023-24 school year, alternate assessment participation rates were 1.38% in ELA, 1.44% in mathematics and 1.42% in science. Further data are found in the 2024-25 Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) 1% Waiver Extension Request.

Florida Alternate Assessment

2024-25 1% Cap on Alternate Assessment Participation Waiver Extension Request

Previous Florida 1% Cap on Alternate Assessment Participation Waivers and Waiver Extension Requests

2023-2024
2022-2023
2021-2022
2020-2021
2019-2020 – Blanket waiver provided due to COVID-19.
2019 Letter from USED

Exceptional Student Education (ESE) Policies and Procedures (P&P)

Section 1003.57(1)(b)1., Florida Statutes (F.S.), requires district school boards submit to the Florida Department of Education (FDOE) proposed procedures for the provision of special instruction and services for exceptional students once every three years. This document also serves as the basis for the identification, evaluation, eligibility determination and placement of students to receive exceptional education services, and is a component of the district’s application for funds available under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.

To view a district’s approved ESE P&P, visit https://beessgsw.org/#/spp/institution/public/.

To view a district’s prior approved ESE P&P, visit http://beess.fcim.org/sppDistrictDocSearch.aspx.

Local Educational Agency (LEA) Justifications, District-Level Data and Assurances

Consistent with 34 C.F.R. § 200.6(c)(3)(ii), any LEA that has surpassed 1.0% must submit a justification as to why it exceeded the threshold. FDOE monitors FAA participation rates closely and discusses these rates annually during mandated 1.0% data discussions. To view an LEA’s justification, data and assurances, visit https://www.fldoe.org/academics/exceptional-student-edu/data/.