Speaking on the last day of the superintendents conference last week, Commissioner Chester clarified the extended deadlines for submitting implementation plans for District-Determined Measures of Student Growth.

By the end of September, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education expects districts to report the details of the five DDMs that must be piloted this year (See District Determined Measures 4.12.13-2). A plan that outlines how the district will create and administer the remaining DDMs is due by February 21, 2014. DESE will provide a template for both of these reports.

Many district superintendents pushed back, saying that they need more time for implementation of this new mandate, that they are already swamped by implementing other initiatives. Apparently in response to these pressures, the Commissioner said that it might be possible for districts to apply to continue piloting DDMs for an extra year when they file their plans in February. Ron Noble, DESE’s project lead for DDMs, reminds us that 1) this extension will need Board of Education approval and 2) this cannot be a blanket extension but can only apply to certain grade levels or subject areas.