Management Bulletin 25-09

Early Education Division

Subject: The Desired Results Developmental Profile (2025) for California State Preschool Programs and Special Education Division Funded Programs

Number: 25-09

Date: October, 2025

Expires: Until rescinded or superseded by regulations

Authority: California Code of Regulations, Title 5 Section 17702, California Education Code (EC) Section 8203.5, and Code of Federal Regulations, Title 34 Section 300.600.

Attention: Executive Directors and Program Directors of all California State Preschool Programs

Purpose

This Management Bulletin (MB) notifies and provides guidance to California State Preschool Program (CSPP) contractors of the opportunity to participate in early adoption of the Desired Results Development Profile (2025) (DRDP [2025]), a developmental continuum from infancy through grade three. This bulletin provides information from both the Early Education Division (EED) and the Special Education Division (SED) regarding implementation of the DRDP (2025).

This MB rescinds and replaces MBs 15-03 and 16-06.

Policy

Program Year 2025-26

CSPP

CSPP contractors are invited to begin using the DRDP (2025) during this program year. Early adoption of the DRDP (2025) is optional for CSPP contractors beginning with the 2025–26 program year and is mandatory beginning in the 2026–27 program year. For fall 2025 and spring 2026 reporting, CSPP programs have the option to use the DRDP (2025) or continue using the DRDP (2015). 

Implementation for Children with Disabilities

Special Education service providers delivering services on behalf of Local Educational Agencies (LEAs) are required to use the DRDP (2015) to assess all eligible birth to five-year-old children with Individual Family Service Plans (IFSPs) and Individual Education Programs (IEPs) for the fall 2025 and spring 2026 reporting periods. 

Program Year 2026-27

Effective July 1, 2026, all CSPP contractors and all Special Education service providers will be required to use the DRDP (2025).

Directives for Implementation

About the DRDP (2025)

The DRDP (2025) is a formative assessment that includes a developmental continuum from infancy through grade three. It is designed to assess the developmental progression of all children, including those with an IFSP or an IEP. The tool was recently revised to reflect current research in the field of child development and be more inclusive of children with disabilities as well as dual language learners. The DRDP (2025) is fully aligned to the Preschool/Transitional Kindergarten Learning Foundations (PTKLF) as well as the Infant-Toddler Learning and Development Foundations (ITLDF).

During the fall of 2024, a pilot study was conducted with over 500 children across the early education programs throughout the state of California. Data gathered from this study was used to refine the DRDP (2025). A final field study phase of the research will be conducted during the 2025–26 program year to calibrate and further validate the instrument.

Early Adoption of the DRDP (2025)

Participation in the early adoption of the DRDP (2025) is encouraged for all CSPP contractors. Use of the DRDP (2025) will meet the CSPP requirement to complete a DRDP for each child enrolled at least 10 hours per week. Training on the new tool is being provided to contractors via webinars, training modules, and in person. Please find more information about training opportunities on the WestEd website at DRDP (2025) Training Desired Results For Children and Families .

CSPP contractors may choose to use the DRDP (2025) for some classrooms and continue to use the DRDP (2015) for other classrooms. CSPP contractors will complete their program self-evaluation using data from the DRDP assessments that best represent the children served in the program.

CSPP contractors are required to upload DRDP data to DRDP Online to record each child’s assessment ratings. You can find more information on DRDP Online .

NOTE: While early adoption may be an option for many, Special Education service providers are required to use and submit DRDP (2015) data through their Special Education Local Plan Areas (SELPA) for the 2025–26 year. For more information about DRDP (2015) training, reports, technical assistance, or requirements, Special Education service providers should contact Desired Results Access Project at: info@draccess.org.

Why Should CSPP Contractors Participate in Early Adoption?

By participating in early adoption, the teaching staff will have the opportunity to learn and use the new tool prior to when they will be required to use it beginning with the 2026–27 program year. Further, CSPP contractors will contribute to the data pool that is used to determine the usability and reliability of the updated assessment.

Background and Authority

The California Code of Regulations, Title 5, Section 17702 requires CSPP contractors to complete the age-appropriate DRDP for each child enrolled in the program for at least 10 hours per week, and for every child with exceptional needs regardless of the hours a week they are certified for. The DRDP must be completed between 60 to 90 calendar days of the child’s first day of attendance in the program and at least once every six months thereafter.

The Individuals with Disabilities Education Act within the Code of Federal Regulations, Title 34, Section 300.600, requires the state to collect data as part of the State Performance Plan (SPP) and Annual Performance Report (APR). The DRDP provides the data for Part B Indicator 7 of the SPP/APR.

Resources

If you have programmatic questions related to this MB, please contact your assigned EED, Program Quality Implementation (PQI) office regional consultant on the CDE EED, PQI Consultant Regional Assignments web page.

The Desired Results Developmental Profile is a website that provides information about the DRDP (2025).

If you would like more information on training opportunities, please contact the WestEd training team on the training web page .

If you have questions regarding the administration of the DRDP for children with disabilities, please contact the Early Childhood Support Unit in the SED at: ECSU@cde.ca.gov.

This MB is mandatory only to the extent that it cites a specific statutory or regulatory requirement, and is not prescriptive, pursuant to California EC 33308.5.