DLM News Archive

2025 DLM External Review of Testlets in Kansas City, MO

Over the course of five weeks, 80+ general and special education experts helped shape the growth and success of Dynamic Learning Maps^® (DLM^®) alternate assessments by contributing to content and fairness panels at the 2025 DLM External Review of Testlets event last summer. Educators, curriculum specialists, and district and state staff shared their expertise and provided feedback on newly developed DLM items and testlets for English language arts, math, and science. External reviews are one of many ways our valued experts ensure the development of instructionally relevant, grade-appropriate, and accurate assessments.

2025 DLM Postsecondary Opportunities Panel in Madison, WI

A group of 30 general and special educators helped inform the future development of postsecondary educational products and resources at the 2025 Dynamic Learning Maps^® (DLM^®) Postsecondary Opportunities Panel event in late July. Educators examined a new educational resource that integrates grade-specific DLM Essential Elements with the knowledge, skills, abilities, and work activities needed for career readiness after high school. At the close of the event, the resource accurately represented links between academic content for students with significant cognitive disabilities and occupational needs for 31 postsecondary occupational opportunities.

Each year, teachers must complete or update each student’s First Contact Survey. It is important to update this information annually to ensure students’ strengths and needs are accurately considered for instruction and testing.

The First Contact Survey is a series of items that goes beyond basic demographics and covers a variety of areas, including communication, academic skills, and attention. The test administrator enters the responses for each eligible student on their rosters.

Responses to the survey items are used to provide an optimal system match between the student and linkage level for each Essential Element in the blueprint for each subject being tested. The items are categorized into the following sections:

• Special Education
• Sensory Capabilities
• Motor Capabilities and Health
• Computer Instruction
• Communication (Expressive and Receptive)
• Language
• Academics

Questions in the First Contact Survey can be found in Appendix A of the Test Administration Manual, located on each state’s webpage.

A video that demonstrates how to complete the First Contact Survey, as well as the Personal Needs and Preferences (PNP) Profile, is also available on the DLM website.

Dynamic Learning Maps^® (DLM^®) is bringing educators together this fall to help develop assessment content for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.

The 2026 DLM Item Writing event will take place October 26–30 in Kansas City, Missouri. Participating educators will draw on their classroom experience and content expertise to develop assessment items for DLM alternate assessments.

Item writing is an important part of the DLM assessment development process, connecting the expertise of classroom educators with the work of DLM content and assessment specialists. Teachers bring firsthand knowledge of how students engage with academic content and demonstrate what they know and can do.

DLM is seeking both general education and special education teachers from DLM member states to participate. All travel and lodging expenses are covered, and participants will be compensated for their time.

Educators interested in participating should complete an interest survey by Aug. 18. Completing the survey does not obligate educators to participate. Selected participants will be contacted after the review process. 

Click here to take the interest survey now.

Idaho has joined the Dynamic Learning Maps^® (DLM^®) Alternate Assessment Consortium, becoming the ninth state to adopt the Instructionally Embedded assessment model. 

With the addition of Idaho, the DLM Alternate Assessment System now serves students with the most significant cognitive disabilities in 23 states, the District of Columbia, and the Republic of Palau. Idaho will administer DLM alternate assessments in English language arts, mathematics, and science. 

The Instructionally Embedded model connects assessment with classroom instruction throughout the school year, providing educators with opportunities to assess student learning as part of their instructional practice. 

To support Idaho’s transition, a team of DLM project managers traveled across the state, providing in-person training for approximately 500 teachers, special educators, and district and state-level staff. The training introduced educators to DLM assessments, Essential Elements, and instructional resources, while emphasizing the connection between assessment and meaningful learning opportunities for students with significant cognitive disabilities.

Dynamic Learning Maps^® (DLM^®) team members will join assessment professionals from around the world at the 51st Annual International Association for Educational Assessment (IAEA) Conference in Toronto, Canada, September 27 – October 2. 

Michael Muenks and Lynda Lupp will host an exhibition table where they will answer questions and talk with educators from around the world about DLM’s resources and educational approaches. The exhibit provides an opportunity to introduce DLM to new audiences, explore potential partnerships, and broaden the reach of DLM’s mission to improve learning opportunities for students with disabilities.

DLM team members will also deliver conference presentations on topics including diagnostic classification models, universal design, enhanced reporting, technology-enhanced items, through-year assessment and learning maps.

Presentations featuring DLM team members include: 

• Using Diagnostic Classification Models to Improve Instructional Decision-Making 
  Jake Thompson
• Open and Transparent Scoring with measr: An R Package for Diagnostic Classification Models
  Jake Thompson
• Advancing Assessment Transparency Through Universal Design of Assessment Systems 
  Meagan Karvonen
• Bridging Alternate Assessments with Enhanced Reporting for Inclusive Employment Pathways
  Melissa Gholson and Meagan Karvonen 
• Evaluating TEIs for Science Assessments for Students with Significant Cognitive Disabilities
  Melissa Gholson
• Through-Year Assessment as a Summative Tool: Proof-of-Concept Evidence from the Pathways for Instructionally Embedded Assessment (PIE) Project 
  Brooke Nash and Jake Thompson
• Learning Maps in Assessment Systems: Balancing Accountability and Instructional Support
  Russell Swinburne Romine, Vanessa Simmering, and Brooke Nash 

As we close out the 2025–2026 school year, we are happy to share some exciting news about the exponential growth of the Dynamic Learning Maps^® (DLM^®) assessment. During our first operational year in 2014–2015, we had a total of 749,900 testlets administered with eight states testing in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics. As we approach the end of this year’s testing window, we are proud to announce that we have more than tripled the DLM alternate assessment’s outreach! 

Testing occurs in 23 states as well as Washington D.C. and the Republic of Palau. We are on track to surpass a record of 2.5 million ELA, mathematics, and science testlets administered. Educators administered DLM assessments to 114,829 students across 17,407 schools in 5,302 districts. 

We appreciate the hard work and dedication of our DLM partner states who are committed to ensuring the success of our students.