Final answer:
National individual assessments deadlines are determined by states under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), with varying approval times as seen with Massachusetts in 2020 and delays due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Step-by-step explanation:
National individual assessments are considered late after the deadlines set by individual states under the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) of 2015. ESSA shifted the responsibility from the federal government to the states, requiring them to submit plans and goals to the U.S. Department of Education for approval. Although there was a delay in the approval of these plans under the Trump administration, progress resumed with Massachusetts being the first state to have its plan approved in April 2020. Moreover, the COVID-19 pandemic has caused additional delays in state actions regarding ESSA approvals.