By Sue Gamm, Esq.

Forget legal jargon ... here's your plain-language guide to ESSA and IDEA assessment and accountability mandates, and what they mean for your day-to-day practices. You get a straightforward look at state accountability systems, reporting requirements, assessments of English learners and students with significant cognitive disabilities, and more -- so you can easily digest what you must do to comply.

You'll develop policies and procedures to successfully implement ESSA's assessment and accountability mandates with the knowledge and insights to:

• Meet ESSA's 1.0 percent participation rate requirement for students taking alternate assessments
• Request a waiver of the 1.0 percent participation rate requirement
• Provide information to parents of English learners
• Develop and create a state-defined alternate diploma for students with disabilities
• Identify student data that must be included in state/LEA report cards
• And more!