Assessment Exemptions

All students enrolled in a public school district are expected to take part in Rhode Island’s statewide academic assessment program in one of three ways:

  1. participate in the general education assessments without accommodations
  2. participate in the general education assessments with accommodations
  3. participate in the alternate assessments

 Students may only be exempted from testing under certain, limited conditions.

Rhode Island defines a serious illness or medical condition as one that prevents the student from receiving classroom instruction and from participating in statewide assessments for the remainder of the testing window. The tabs below contain the information and guidance necessary to complete a request for a medical exemption.

Guidance Documents:

  • Information on how to submit a exemption request begins in Appendix E: Requesting Medical Exemptions from Statewide Assessments, in the RISAP Test Coordinator Handbook posted at www.ride.ri.gov/tc. This section explains the criteria a student's situation should meet in order to receive an exemption from statewide testing, the steps districts and schools must take to complete an exemption, and directions for entering the exemption request into the eRIDE system.

Individual Forms:

  • Form 1: District Assurances Form (pdf): (posted 2.15.2022) This form must be completed and signed by the superintendent of the district where the student is enrolled. Keep on file at the district office and fax to RIDE at 401-222-3605.
  • Form 2: Parent Forms (pdf): (posted 2.15.2022) The parent or guardian of the student must sign this form and submit it to the school or district office. Keep on file at the district office; do not fax to RIDE.
  • Form 3: Treating Physician/Mental Health Professional Form (pdf): This form must be signed by the physician or mental health professional who is treating the student. Keep on file at the district office; do not fax to RIDE.

NOTE: The online testing platforms may allow for schools to enter "not tested" codes, such as a medical or other exemption types. RIDE does not consider these approved exemptions. The only way to receive an approved exemption from testing is to complete the process outlined in the Medical Exemption Guidance section of the RISAP Handbook.

Districts must enter the exemption request into the State Assessment Exemption Requests application in eRIDE in order for the request to be considered for approval.

NOTE:

  • Outplacement schools cannot enter exemption requests into eRIDE. The sending district must complete the request in eRIDE.
  • The superintendent's office has access to the State Assessment Exemption Requests application in eRIDE. Principals and other school administrators do not.

In order for an exemption request to be considered complete, the request must be entered into the State Assessment Exemption Requests application in eRIDE by your district. Sign-in is required. Dates for completing medical exemption requests are listed below. Please see the other tabs for information on completing a request. 

Dates for completing medical exemption requests in the eRIDE State Assessment Exemption Requests application. Districts can begin the process for completing the forms at any time. The Medical Exemption request must be entered into the eRIDE portal before a request is considered complete and can be reviewed:

TEST EXEMPTION REQUEST OPEN EXEMPTION REQUEST CLOSED
ACCESS / Alt ACCESS February 14 March 31
NAEP N/A N/A
DLM June 6 June 30
SAT May 2 June 30
PSAT10 May 2 June 30
RICAS ELA May 2 June 30
RICAS Math June 6 June 30
NGSA June 6 June 30

NOTES: The online testing platforms may allow for schools to enter "not tested" codes, such as a medical or other approved exemption. RIDE does not consider these approved exemptions. The only way to receive an approved exemption from testing is to complete the process outlined in the RISAP Test Coordinator Handbook.

Outplacement schools are responsible for the following:

  • Ensuring the request meets the criteria for a medical exemption
  • Communicating to the sending district the reason a medical exemption should be requested
  • Completing Forms 2 and 3 (the parent and physician/mental health professional forms).
  • Ensuring the sending district has copies of Forms 2 and 3. The outplacement school should keep the original copies

Sending districts are responsible for the following:

  • Reviewing the reason for the request to ensure it meets the criteria for a medical exemption
  • Discussing the reason for the request with the outplacement school.
  • Reviewing Forms 2 and 3
  • Completing and faxing Form 1 to RIDE at 401-222-3605
  • Entering the request into the Statewide Assessment Requests application on eRIDE.
  • Answering any questions RIDE may have about the request.