- Complete List of Essential Elements for Science – Spring 2027 (pdf)
comprehensive list of all Essential Elements with details of the three science dimensions for each - Science Essential Elements to Be Tested Beginning in Spring 2027
list of PDFs for each Essential Element available for assessment; these PDFs provide the nodes at each linkage level and a mini-map showing the pathways between the nodes * General Science Blueprint – Spring 2027 (pdf)
pool of available Essential Elements for Science* Science Blueprint with High School Biology – Spring 2027 – DE, DC, and MD Only (pdf)
pool of available Essential Elements, including High School Biology, for Science- Development of the DLM Essential Elements for Science – Spring 2027 (pdf)
a short description of how the Essential Elements in science were developed - DLM Assessed Science Essential Elements: Spring 2026 to Spring 2027 (pdf)
relationship between the Spring 2026 and 2027 Essential Elements for science
Instructional Resources for YE Model States
Looking for resources for your state? Go to your state's page directly:
Does my state use the IE or YE model?
The instructional resources on this page are for states using the Year-End model.
An asterisk (
Important notice for states that assess Science: The 2025–2026 school year is a transition year for DLM science. The two science tabs below are included to help with this transition.
- The "Science" tab contains the original set of science Essential Elements, which are used for the spring 2026 operational assessment testlets
- Go to the "Science - Spring 2027" tab for the revised and expanded set of science Essential Elements, which will be the bases for the testlets in the embedded science field test in spring 2026 and the operational science testlets in the spring 2027 DLM Science Alternate Assessment.
Science Spring 2027
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