Begin Main Content Area

​Guidance for Medical Exemptions from State Assessments

Generally, if a student can receive instruction, then they are also able to participate in state assessments; however, the health and well-being of students should take priority in determining whether they can participate. 

Students may receive a medical exemption if they cannot participate in a state assessment during the testing window, including make-up dates, due to a significant medical event. Examples include, but are not limited to, a student who is 1) receiving short-term medical treatment due to a medical emergency; or 2) seriously ill or has a medical condition that prevents them from receiving instruction during the testing window.

  1. A medical emergency is defined as a circumstance in which a student cannot take or finish taking the assessment during the entire testing window, including make-up dates, because of a recent significant medical event just prior to or during the annual testing window. Examples of medical emergencies include: 
    1. Serious injury 
    2. Concussion 
    3. Confinement to home or hospital with an acute condition, not a long-term home instruction or hospital instruction situation. 
    4. Inability to interact with others without serious risk of infection or contamination. 
    5. Pregnancy with significant health complications or delivery just prior to or during the testing window. 
    6. Mental health crisis that prevents a student from receiving instruction. 
A note from a physician dated at least two weeks within the start of the testing window must be on file at the school. These records must be retained for three years.
  1. A serious illness or medical condition is defined as one in which the student is receiving active treatment for a life-threatening illness or medical condition and/or the associated recuperation. A note from a physician must be on file at the school and must be retained for three years.

To account for a student with a medical exemption, as defined above, the “Medical Emergency” bubble on testing documents should be used.

Note: An assessment of a student’s medical condition must be made annually at the testing window for each content area.