DRDP Administration FAQs

The DRDP is an authentic assessment of ongoing systematic observations of children's knowledge and skills in everyday activities, routines, and transitions by those who know the child well. The DRDP was developed by the California Department of Education (CDE) for young children and their families. The DRDP is used to inform instruction, improve education programs, and support child outcomes reporting at the federal level.

All children birth to five years of age with individualized education programs (IEP) or individualized family service plans (IFSP), serviced by local educational agencies (LEAs) are required to have the DRDP completed on them.

Yes. Beginning in school year 2024–25, all three, four, and five year old students served by LEAs with an individualized education program (IEP) or individualized family service plan (IFSP) must have the DRDP completed and the data must be reported to their special education local plan area (SELPA). The SELPA will report the DRDP data to the California Department of Education (CDE) to be included in the federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP) reporting.

Yes. Beginning in school year 2024–25, all three, four, and five year old students with an individualized education program (IEP) or individualized family service plan (IFSP) served by a local educational agency (LEA) must have the DRDP completed regardless of the student’s setting.

The DRDP is available at no cost. Training on the DRDP is also available at no cost. Special educators can download the assessment on the Desired Results (DR) Access Project, DRDP (2015) Preschool Fundamental View web page . Additional resources, job aides, and tutorials are available on the Desired Results Access Project website .

The Infant-Toddler Comprehensive View of the DRDP should be completed on infants and toddlers in the age range of zero through two years of age who are on an individualized family service plan (IFSP) served by local educational agencies (LEAs). The DRDP Preschool Fundamental View should be completed on children in the age range of three through five years of age who are on IEPs and provided services through LEAs.

The California Department of Education (CDE), Special Education Division (SED) requires training for all early childhood special educators who complete the DRDP on children. The special education local plan areas (SELPAs) are responsible for ensuring that all staff who administer the DRDP complete training. Training does not need to be completed prior to administration, although it is recommended. Training is completed online at the Desired Results Access Project LEARN website .

The California Department of Education (CDE) has broad authority under the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act (IDEA) and California Education Code to collect the information that is needed to evaluate pupil and program performance results for the State Performance Plan (SPP) through the Annual Performance Report (APR). Components of IDEA led to the use of the DRDP for early intervention and preschool special education.

Since 2007, the special education local plan areas (SELPAs) have reported to the CDE, Special Education Division (SED) on the DRDP assessment. The DRDP data is used for the SPP/APR reporting according to the requirements of the federal Office of Special Education Programs (OSEP).

The DRDP includes domains that meet the federal OSEP child outcome reporting requirements for children with individualized education programs (IEP) or individualized family service plans (IFSP). The federal OSEP requires the CDE to submit data on three, four, and five year old children. The CDE utilizes data from the DRDP for this requirement.