The fourth statewide administration of Minnesota's Basic Standards Tests in Reading and Mathematics took place in the spring of 1999. The first administration of the statewide Test of Written Composition for 10th graders also took place in 1999. Beginning with the class of 2000, students are required to pass these tests by the time they complete 12th grade in order to receive a high school diploma. This report examines the participation and performance of students with disabilities since the first statewide administration in 1996, across grades 8 through 11. Results from the examination indicate: (1) the participation of 8th grade students with disabilities on the 1999 Basic Standards Tests stands at 90 percent; (2) by 11th grade, over a fourth of the students with disabilities had not yet passed the tests and took them again, some for at least the fifth time; (3) the performance of 8th graders with disabilities has decreased slightly on the mathematics test across each of the 4 years of testing, with only 27 percent in 1999 passing; and (4) the passing rate for 8th graders with disabilities was higher on the reading test than the mathematics test. Appendices include federal requirements for assessment participation. (CR)