Skip to main content
California Department of Education Logo

DRDP Administration FAQs

These frequently asked questions (FAQs) assist local educational agencies (LEAs) in the administration of the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP).
What is the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP)?

The DRDP is an authentic assessment of ongoing systematic observations of children's knowledge and skills in everyday activities, routines, and transitions by those who know the child well. The DRDP was developed by the California Department of Education (CDE) for young children and their families. The DRDP is used to inform instruction, improve education programs, and support child outcomes reporting at the federal level.

At what age is the DRDP required for children?

All children birth to five years of age with individualized education programs (IEP) or individualized family service plans (IFSP), serviced by local educational agencies (LEAs) are required to have the DRDP completed on them.

Is the DRDP required to be administered to three, four, and five year old students in 2024–25?

Yes. Beginning in school year 2024–25, all three, four, and five year old students served by LEAs with an individualized education program (IEP) or individualized family service plan (IFSP) must have the DRDP completed and the data must be reported to their special education local plan area (SELPA). The SELPA will report the DRDP data to the California Department of Education (CDE) to be included in the federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) reporting.

Are five year old students attending transitional kindergarten and kindergarten required to be administered the DRDP?

Yes. Beginning in school year 2024–25, all three, four, and five year old students with an individualized education program (IEP) or individualized family service plan (IFSP) served by a local educational agency (LEA) must have the DRDP completed regardless of the student’s setting.

How is the DRDP obtained?

The DRDP is available at no cost. Training on the DRDP is also available at no cost. Special educators can download the assessment on the Desired Results (DR) Access Project, DRDP (2015) Preschool Fundamental View web page External link opens in new window or tab. . Additional resources, job aides, and tutorials are available on the Desired Results Access Project website External link opens in new window or tab..

Which DRDP assessment should be administered?

The Infant-Toddler Comprehensive View of the DRDP should be completed on infants and toddlers in the age range of zero through two years of age who are on an individualized family service plan (IFSP) served by local educational agencies (LEAs). The DRDP Preschool Fundamental View should be completed on children in the age range of three through five years of age who are on IEPs and provided services through LEAs.

What are the requirements for conducting the DRDP?

The California Department of Education (CDE), Special Education Division (SED) requires training for all early childhood special educators who complete the DRDP on children. The special education local plan areas (SELPAs) are responsible for ensuring that all staff who administer the DRDP complete training. Training does not need to be completed prior to administration, although it is recommended. Training is completed online at the Desired Results Access Project LEARN website External link opens in new window or tab..

Why is the DRDP being administered?

The California Department of Education (CDE) has broad authority under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and California Education Code to collect the information that is needed to evaluate pupil and program performance results for the State Performance Plan (SPP) through the Annual Performance Report (APR). Components of IDEA led to the use of the DRDP for early intervention and preschool special education.

Since 2007, the special education local plan areas (SELPAs) have reported to the CDE, Special Education Division (SED) on the DRDP assessment. The DRDP data is used for the SPP/APR reporting according to the requirements of the federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).

The DRDP includes domains that meet the federal OSEP child outcome reporting requirements for children with individualized education programs (IEP) or individualized family service plans (IFSP). The federal OSEP requires the CDE to submit data on three, four, and five year old children. The CDE utilizes data from the DRDP for this requirement.

Questions:   Special Education Division, Early Childhood Support Unit | ECSU@cde.ca.gov
Last Reviewed: Thursday, August 29, 2024
Recently Posted in Special Education
  • ACSE Agenda October 16, 2024 (updated 11-Oct-2024)
    Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE) meeting agenda.
  • California Special Education Local Plan Areas (updated 11-Oct-2024)
    Service area covered by a special education local plan and the governance structure created under any of the planning options of Section 56205, 56206, 56208, 56211, 56213, 56241, 56243, 56244, & 56245 of the Education Code.
  • WAI Executive Meeting October 15, 2024 (added 03-Oct-2024)
    WorkAbility I (WAI) State Advisory Executive Committee Meeting Agenda.
  • Cyclical Monitoring for Small LEAs (updated 24-Sep-2024)
    This is the home page for local educational agencies (LEAs) that have been selected for Special Education Cyclical Monitoring.
  • ACSE Membership and Liaisons (updated 17-Sep-2024)
    Directory of the Advisory Commission on Special Education (ACSE), including Commissioner, liaison and staff contact information.

  • FMTA Consultant Assignments by Region (updated 12-Sep-2024)
    The Focused Monitoring and Technical Assistance (FMTA) Consultants are assigned geographically and by quality assurance activity to align with the eleven California County Superintendents Educational Services Association (CCSESA) regions.
  • CALPADS Special Education Data Fall Roadshows (updated 29-Aug-2024)
    California Longitudinal Pupil Achievement Data System (CALPADS) Regional trainings in Fall 2024 to inform local educational agencies (LEAs) with updates and changes to the collection of data for students with disabilities.
  • DRDP Administration FAQs (added 29-Aug-2024)
    These frequently asked questions (FAQs) assist local educational agencies (LEAs) in the administration of the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP).
  • 2024 Significantly Disproportionate LEAs (added 28-Aug-2024)
    A list of the local educational agencies (LEAs) identified as significantly disproportionate for the 2024 fiscal year.