Nearly three times the federal limit of Trenton students take the alternate state test, under a waiver

What happened

A state testing presentation on October 13, 2025 showed Trenton's participation in the Dynamic Learning Maps alternate assessment at 2.8 percent in English and 2.3 percent in mathematics for 2024-25, against a federal cap of 1 percent, with the district operating under a waiver. The same presentation reported prior years at 3.1 and 3.1 percent, 2.5 and 2.4, and 2.6 and 2.2. The alternate assessment is intended for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.

Why it matters to families

Taking the alternate test instead of the general one changes what a child is taught and what standard they are held to. Consistently exceeding the federal limit means the district is placing a larger share of students on that path than the rule contemplates, and it has been doing so for at least four years.

The evidence

The presentation carries a slide headed 'DLM Justification - The Over 1% Waiver' with the 2024-2025 row reading '2.8 2.3' for English and mathematics against the 1 percent threshold.

The source