Assessments
ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 is a secure large-scale English language proficiency assessment administered to kindergarten through 12th grade students who have been identified as English language learners (ELLs). It is given annually to monitor students' progress in acquiring academic English. ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 is aligned with the WIDA English Language Development Standards and assess each of the four language domains of listening, speaking, reading and writing. The assessment is available in both paper-based and online formats for grades 1-12, while kindergarten and alternate ACCESS for ELLs are paper-based tests.
DATE(S): February 6-10 2024
Kindergarten WIDA-ACCESS Placement Test (Kindergarten W-APT) is an English language proficiency screener given to incoming kindergartners to identify English language learners (ELLs).
DATE(S): September 12th 2024
Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA) (Alternative Assessment for ELA and Math) tests in the areas of English language arts and mathematics. It is an assessment developed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The MSAA is based on alternate achievement standards which have been derived from and are connected to the state's achievement standards. The overall goal of the MSAA is to make sure that all students achieve increasingly higher academic outcomes and leave high school ready for such post-high school options such as college, career and community participation.
DATE(S): March 27- April 26, 2024 Grades 3-8 and 11
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), often referred to as the Nation's Report Card, NAEP is the only nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in various subjects. Its two main goals are to measure student achievement and to report change in student performance over time. The NAEP is given to a sampling of students across the nation. The results of the NAEP are given for the entire nation and for individual states Results are also given for specific groups of students, eg. gender, racial and ethnic groups, and National School Lunch Program eligibility. Results are not available for schools or individual students. NAEP is given to many South Dakota students in reading and mathematics at grades 4,8, and 12 every two years. National and state results are reported to the public.
DATES: Nothing at this time
Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a standardized test administered by the College Board. HHS offers it to junior students, but it is open to younger students as well. The scores from the PSAT/NMSQT (juniors only) are used to determine eligibility and qualification for the National Merit Scholarship Program.
October 13th, 2024
Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment measures student achievement in relation to our state standards in areas of English language arts and mathematics. The online test uses adaptive testing technologies to the greatest extent possible to provide meaningful feedback and actionable data that teachers and other educators can use to help students succeed. In addition to providing overall scores in those two subject areas, score reports will provide information on student performance in English (reading, writing, listening and research) and math (concepts and procedures, problem solving and modeling/data analysis, and communicating/reasoning).
DATE(S):April 16th-19th 6-8 grade; April 22 and 25 11th grade; April 23rd-26th
South Dakota Science Assessment and South Dakota Science Assessment/Alternate (SDSA and SDSA-A) measures students' mastery of the South Dakota State Academic Standards in Science adopted in May 2015 at grades 5, 8, and 11. This test will cover the grade spans of 3-5, 6-8, and high school. Questions will come equally as possible from life, physical and earth sciences at all three tested levels. The assessment will be complete online. Results are available as soon as the SD Department of Education makes them available to the school.
DATE(S): April 22nd 5, 2024
Other Assessments:
Accuplacer tests are used to evaluate the mathematics, reading and writing skills. Some students take the Accuplacer tests to determine if they are ready to pursue postsecondary studies or to identify areas where they need to improve to be ready for college. It meets the assessment needs of community colleges, four-year colleges, technical schools, and high schools. Accuplacer is a web-based assessment tool to determine skills in reading, writing, and math. It is not a timed test.
American College Test (ACT) is a standardized test used for college admissions in the United States. It consists of English, mathematics, reading, science reasoning tests with an optional writing test. Many colleges and universities recommend the writing portion of the ACT. Please see Mr. Podhradsky for avaliable dates:
Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) Career Exploration Program (CEP) is a multiple choice test, administered used to determine qualification for enlistment in the United States Armed Forces. It also offers career planning tools while helping students to learn about themselves and potential occupations which align with their skills and interests.
DATE(S): TBA
National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) is an industry recognized, portable credential that demonstrates achievement and a certain level of workplace employability skills in Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents. The certificate is recognized across all industry sectors. The NCRC is based upon the WorkKeys® assessments and measures "real world" skills that employers believe are critical to job success. Test questions are based on situations in the everyday work world. October 14, 2022
SDMyLife is an online career exploration and academic program for South Dakota students. It is designed to help students become prepared for life after high school. SDMyLife's goal is to help students understand how their interests, skills, and knowledge relate to real-world academic and career opportunities.
More information about required assessments can be found here: http://doe.sd.gov/Assessment/