The Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) Assessment System is a statewide accountability and progress assessment system, which was implemented in January 2007 for preschool-age children with Individualize Education Programs (IEP). Training activities are continuing with two annual fall trainings and the introduction of online learning modules for new teachers. Special Education Local Plan Area (SELPA) teams trained last year continue to receive support to build local capacity for training on the DRDP assessments.
Implementing the DRDP assessment system ensures that the California Department of Education (CDE), Special Education Division (SED) complies with the following requirements of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Improvement Act of 2004 (IDEA 2004) and the U.S. Department of Education's Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP):
- Children with disabilities are included in any state or district-wide assessments (IDEA 2004: Section (§) 612(a)(16)(A)). Therefore, preschool-age children with disabilities need to be included in the Desired Results assessments.
- Every state must report progress toward three child outcomes for preschool children with disabilities (IDEA 2004, 20 U.S.C. 1416(b)(2)(C)(ii))
To meet these requirements, preschool children with IEPs served by CDE, SED will participate in the DRDP assessment system. All three, four, and five year old preschoolers with IEPs will be assessed using either the PS DRDP-R for Children with IEPs or the DRDP access.
Participation in the DRDP Assessment System will accomplish more than enabling California to comply with federal law. It will assist educators and programs to:
- Better monitor and understand children's progress
- Tailor interventions to the individual needs of each child
- Assist in informing families about their children's progress
- Inform program evaluation and continual quality improvement efforts, assisting in decision-making at the child, program, and policy levels
- To assist California's preschool special educators and CDE to document the positive results of their programs and services
Overview of Requirements for Preschool Special Education
The following Overview of Requirements of Preschool Special Education and Timeline for DRDP Assessment System Data Collection and Reporting provide important information for assessors and administrators.
Eligible Children
All 3, 4, and 5-year-old preschoolers who have IEPs, regardless of instructional setting or services received, must be assessed using either the PS DRDP-R for Children with IEPs or the DRDP access.
Children must enter preschool:
- before November 1st to be included in the fall assessment, and
- before April 1st to be included in the spring assessment.
Assessment Points
Assessors should continually observe children and document their progress on the PS DRDP-R for Children with IEPs or the DRDP access. Based on those observations and documentation, children’s progress will be rated and reported on the PS DRDP-R or DRDP access two times a year, once in the fall and once in the spring. Please check with your local administrator for the dates DRDP data is due.
IEP Team Responsibilities
- Determining whether the PS DRDP-R for Children with IEPs or the DRDP access will be used for each child, and
- Documenting the adaptations that each child uses on a daily basis and will use for this assessment.
Note: The instrument for which data is reported for the child’s first assessment must be used for all subsequent assessments.
Assessor Responsibilities
- The person responsible for making sure the assessment is completed is the primary IEP service provider, which includes credentialed classroom special education teachers, speech/language pathologists, and other itinerant staff.
- The primary IEP service provider will be responsible for collecting documentation and reporting data twice a year for each child.
- When a child receives special education services and is enrolled in an early childhood program, all of the child’s service providers should collaborate in completing the assessment. DRDP results will be reported to both SED and CDD, according to the requirements of each Division.
- Special education administrators will determine the assessor in special circumstances, for example children served solely by California Children’s Services, Non-Public Schools, and Non-Public Agents.
Reporting Data
DRDP data will be reported to CDE through the Special Education Desired Results System (SEDRS) or an individual SELPA’s Management Information System (MIS).
The priority of SED is to build understanding of preschool special education's participation in the DRDP Assessment System and to build the capacity for statewide assessment and reporting of data. Additional tools are being developed to support programs' use of the data to track developmental progress of children, report progress to families, inform instructional practices and make data-driven decisions. The Division's goal is to put in place best practices that support the developmental progress of young children and give useful information to families.
Timeline for DRDP Assessment System Data Collection and Reporting
SELPAs report DRDP data to the CDE, SED through direct entry or data upload to the Special Education Desired Results System (SEDRS). The table below specifies the data collection and reporting timelines for 2008-09.
- DRDP data must include a Rating Record and Information Page for each child assessed.
At any time during the year: - Teachers and data entry clerks will be able to print SEDRS reports.
- Administrators will be able to download data from the previous data collection period.
- Please check for updates on the Desired Results access Project Web site (Outside Source)
Timelines for DRDP Data Collection and Reporting 2008 – 2009
| Assessment Period | Observation and Documentation with the PS DRDP-R or The DRDP access |
DRDP Data Submitted to SELPA |
Data Certified by SELPA Fax by due date to 916-327-3730 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Fall 2008 | October 1 – November 30, 2008 | December 1, 2008 – January 31, 2009 | February 1, 2009 |
| Spring 2009 | March 1 – April 30, 2009 | May 1 – June 30, 2009 | July 1, 2009 |
Note to Assessors:
Assessors will submit data to SELPA in advance of the due dates to ensure sufficient time for data entry, accuracy checks, and certification by SELPA. Please contact your local SELPA office for dates that data are due.
Note to SELPA Administrators:
For questions about data submission deadlines or certification, contact Meredith Cathcart at mcathcart@cde.ca.gov or 916-327-3702.
Direct questions regarding SEDRS to sedrs@draccess.org or 707-477-3553.
