Maryland Assessment Letter 2
December 12, 2000
Dr. Nancy Grasmick
Superintendent
Maryland State Department of Education
200 West Baltimore Street
Baltimore, Maryland 21201
Dear Superintendent Grasmick:
It has been a pleasure working with you and your staff during the review process for Maryland’s final assessment system under the Title I requirements of the Elementary and Secondary Education Act. I appreciate Maryland’s efforts to meet the Title I requirements and your responsiveness to making the changes required as a result of the external peer review of Maryland’s assessment system.
I have determined that Maryland’s assessment program meets the requirements of Section 1111(b)(3) and 1116(a) of Title I based on the plan described in your letter of December 3, 2000. I am also granting Maryland a waiver of Section 1111(b)(3)(H) of Title I which requires States to provide individual student reports on the State assessment. I recognize that it would seriously disrupt the progress Maryland is making to require the changes in the Maryland School Performance Assessment Program (MSPAP) necessary to mandate individual student scores. This waiver is authorized for three years, the maximum allowed by law. At the end of that time period, Maryland may request an extension.
In previous correspondence, I indicated that if additional changes are made to Maryland’s assessment system, you must submit information about those changes to the Department as required by section 1111(e)(2) of Title I. I also noted that the approval of Maryland’s assessment system for Title I does not mean that the system complies with federal civil rights requirements, including Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Education Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, Title II of the Americans with Disabilities Act, and requirements under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act.
Congratulations on a fully approved assessment system.
Sincerely,
Michael Cohen
