California Department of Education, Special Education Division Policy Memo:

Important Change in the DRDP Instruments used for Preschool Special Education

Beginning September 1, 2009 all new preschool-age children with Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) will be assessed using only the Desired Results Developmental Profile (DRDP) access.
This change does not affect preschool-age children with IEPs who were assessed prior to September 1; these children will continue to be assessed with the same instrument that was previously used, whether the DRDP access or the DRDP-R.

Why this Change was Made

The California Department of Education (CDE), Child Development Division (CDD) is revising the DRDP-R instruments for infants, toddlers, and preschoolers. The revised instruments will be released for informational purposes in fall, 2009. These instruments will be required for CDD-funded child development programs beginning in fall, 2010.
The new preschool version of the DRDP-R is not being studied with preschool children with disabilities. Therefore, the newly revised version of the DRDP-R cannot be used for statewide assessment and mandatory federal reporting for preschool special education.
In preparation for this upcoming change in the version of the DRDP-R that will be used in CDD-funded programs, all preschool-age children with initial IEPs that begin on, or after September 1, 2009 will be assessed using only the DRDP access. Preschool-age children with existing IEPs in place prior to September 1, 2009 who were assessed using the current DRDP-R will continue to be assessed using the current DRDP-R until they exit preschool special education.

Specific Guidelines

All children entering preschool special education beginning September 1 will only be assessed using the DRDP access.
Children who received at least one DRDP assessment before September 1 will continue to be assessed with the instrument previously used. For example:
- Children with an IEP before September 1 who have been assessed on the DRDP access will continue to be assessed on the DRDP access.
- Children with an IEP before September 1 who have been assessed on the DRDP-R will continue to be assessed on the DRDP-R.
Children who entered special education in the spring or summer after the deadline for the spring, 2009 DRDP assessment (April 1, 2009) and before September 1 will be assessed with the instrument determined by the IEP team, either the DRDP access or the DRDP-R.
Children who begin preschool special education services on or after September 1 will be assessed with the DRDP access.
The newly revised version of the DRDP-R will not be used by preschool special education.
SELPAs cannot switch instruments for those children who have been assessed on the DRDP-R.

IEP Team Responsibilities Beginning September 1, 2009

Beginning September 1, IEP teams will no longer determine which instrument to use for children receiving preschool special education services.
IEP teams will continue to document the adaptations that each child uses on a daily basis and will be used when completing the DRDP assessment.

Please direct questions to Meredith Cathcart at mcathcart@cde.ca.gov (916) 327-3702

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Updated 08/27/09