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This guide is intended for ISD Directors and ISD Monitors and explains how to complete the ISD Summary Justification Form activity in Catamaran. The Summary Justification Forms activity allows ISDs a thorough review of member districts’ alternate assessment participation rates and plans for when participation rates exceed 1%. This activity also provides a Member District Review Tool for ISDs, which helps monitor all member district statuses and completion of the district justification form.

Before beginning the work in Catamaran, the following resources are available to assist in the process:

Access

  1. Log into Catamaran.
  2. Access the activity in one of the two following ways:
    • On the Dashboard, scroll down to the Tasks Overview section. Use the filters, as needed, to narrow tasks, and select the ISD Summary Justification Form 2024-25 link in the Activity Column to open the activity.
Tasks Overview shown with circle around the ISD Summary Justification Form 2024-25 activity.
    • If the activity has been completed, it will not show on the Tasks Overview. On the Dashboard, select the Search link (A) in the upper right-hand corner of the page. By the section heading, select Policy (B). Filter the search results by selecting Justification Forms (C). Next, search for the specific Justification Form (D). Select the Search button (E) to display results.
Search shown on how to find Justification Forms for ISDs for 24-25.

Review Data

In addition to the data available within the activity, MDE has also provided ISDs additional district data to assist in completing this activity. ISDs can review the alternate assessment data submitted by its member districts.

  1. To access the alternate assessment district data,
    • Select Reports from the dropdown menu underneath the ISD user’s name on the Dashboard (1).
    • Next, select the 2024 Alternate Assessment Rate Report for ESSA 1% Participation Cap link available under the Policy header (2).
Link towards the 2024 Alternate Assessment Rate Report for ESSA 1% Participation Cap report.
  1. Download the report by selecting the 2024 Alternate Assessment Rate Report link.
Arrow towards 2024 Alternate Assessment Rate Report link on the 2024 Alternate Assessment Rate Report for ESSA 1% Participation Cap report.
Note: Some ISDs may also have a 2024 Disproportionate Alternate Test Use data available in the same location. To access this data, select Reports from the dropdown menu underneath the ISD user’s name on the Dashboard (1). Next, select the 2024 Disproportionate Alternate Test Use link under the Policy header (2). ISDs with any member district which reported disproportionality in test use will need to work with that district to complete the disproportionality page of the justification form.
Arrow towards the 2024 Disproportionate Alternate Test Use report on the Reports page.

Member District Review Tool

  1. From the Summary Justification Form Menu, select the Member District Review Tool.
Summary Justification Form Menu shown with arrow towards Member District Review Tool link.
  1. Monitor the status of member district submissions. ISD Directors and ISD Monitors can use this tool to ensure all member district work is completed in a timely fashion.
  2. Choose Review Submission to review member district data. To view a submission that has already been accepted, select View.
Note: When member district data is ready for review, the status will be at District Form Submitted to ISD and will be colored tan on the page.
Note: When a submission has already been accepted, the status will be at District Form Accepted by ISD and will be colored green on the page.
Member District Review Tool shown with arrow towards View and Review Submission links.
  1. Review all member district submissions. When the review is done, the ISD Director will decide to
    • Accept a member district submission, select Accept District Form.
    • Return a member district submission for modifications, write comments in the ISD Comments box (required), and choose Return for Modifications.
Arrow towards ISD Comments box and a circle around Accept District Form and Return for Modifications buttons on the Member District Review Tool.

Complete Additional Actions Evidence Form(s)

If member districts were in Tier 2 or Tier 3 in the 2023-34 activity, the ISD will complete Additional Actions Evidence forms.

  1. From the Summary Justification Form Menu, select either the Tier 2 Additional Actions Evidence form or the Tier 3 Additional Actions Evidence form based on last year’s data.
Arrow towards Tier 2 Additional Actions Evidence link on the Summary Justification Form Menu.
  1. On the form, select the district name from the dropdown list (1), provide a title for the file to be uploaded (2), and use the Browse button to select the item (3).
District Name, Descriptive Title, and Browse button shown on the Tier 2 Additional Actions Evidence form.
  1. Save the page using the Save button and repeat step 10 as needed for each district.
Save button circled on the Tier 2 Additional Actions Evidence form.
  1. When all the evidence has been uploaded for the districts in a tier, select Notify MDE to notify MDE that the work is complete.
Circle around the Notify MDE button on the Tier 2 Additional Actions Evidence form.

Complete the ISD Summary Justification Form

  1. From the activity menu, select the ISD Summary Justification Form link.
Arrow towards ISD Summary Justification Form link on the Summary Justification Form Menu.
  1. Complete each page (three total) of the ISD Summary Justification Form.
Note: Navigate quickly between pages of the ISD Summary Justification Form by using the navigation bar on the left. Page number icons will fill in red when the page is complete.
Arrow towards filled in red circle on the left-side of the Justification Form pages.
  1. When the ISD Summary Justification Form is complete, submit to MDE by selecting the Submit to MDE button on the Summary Justification Form: Assurances page.
Note: The ISD Summary Justification Form may not be submitted to the MDE until all member district submissions have been accepted (see steps 6-9 above).
Circle around the Submit to MDE button on the Summary Justification Form: Assurances page.

Need Additional Assistance?

For assistance in understanding how to navigate Catamaran, please contact the Catamaran Help Desk at 877-474-9023 or help@catamaran.partners.