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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:

  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 2026-27 link in the Activity Column to open the activity.
ISD Summary Justification Form circled on the Tasks Overview
    • 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.
Steps on searching for the ISD Summary Justification Form in Catamaran

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 2026 Alternate Assessment Rate Report for ESSA 1% Participation Cap link available under the Policy header (2).
Steps to find ISD Summary Justification Form Report
  1. Select the year in the Year filter and then choose Go.
  1. Download the report by selecting the 2026 Alternate Assessment Rate Report link.
Link to report after the Alternate Assessment Rate Report for ESSA 1% Participation Cap in Catamaran
Note: Some ISDs may also have a 2026 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 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.
Steps to find Disproportionate Alternate Test Use report in Catamaran

  1. From the Summary Justification Form Menu, select the Member District Review Tool.
Link to Member District Review Tool on the Summary Justification Form Menu
  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.
Links to View and Review Submission on Member District Review Tool page
  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.

  1. From the activity menu, select the ISD Summary Justification Form link.
Link to ISD Summary Justification Form 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.
Emphasis on left navigation on the ISD Summary Justification Form
  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).
Submit to MDE button circled on the Summary Justification Form: Assurances page.

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