Assessment Coordinator Toolkit
The Assessment Coordinator Toolkit 2017-18 is a go-to resource that includes items like Assessment Milestones and Important Websites.
Winter Assessment Workshops start this month
The Winter Assessment Workshop will provide attendees with the necessary information to support their school and district in the administration of Smarter Balanced, the South Dakota Science Assessment (SDSA), SDSA Alt and the Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA). The workshop will be set up conference-style with two breakout sessions occurring concurrently. More information on the schedule and breakout session descriptions are available on the Office of Assessment Workshop Presentations and Webinars webpage.
Register via the following links:
What are the testing windows?
- ACCESS and ACCESS Alt (for English learners)
- Smarter Balanced (ELA and math assessment)
- Grades 3-8 and 11: March 7-May 4
- Paper/pencil window: March 19-April 20. Tests shipped no later than April 25.
- MSAA (alternate ELA and math assessment)
- South Dakota Science and South Dakota Science Alt
Find more information on each assessment on the Office of Assessment’s webpage.
Proactive admissions reminder: SBAC matters for high schoolers
Remind 11th grade students taking the Smarter Balanced assessment that their scores can earn them guaranteed acceptance to South Dakota’s public universities and technical institutes, through the state’s proactive admissions initiative.
This initiative offers high school seniors guaranteed general admittance into any of the state’s six public universities and four technical institutes when they meet certain eligibility criteria. Students can meet the eligibility criteria in one of two ways:
- Achieve a Level 3 or 4 on the 11th grade Smarter Balanced test (English and Math), or
- Achieve an ACT composite score of 18 or higher. (NOTE: SD School of Mines requirements differ slightly.)
Students who meet the eligibility criteria will receive a letter from the Secretary of Education in fall 2018, indicating that they are eligible for this opportunity. About one week before these letters are mailed to students, the Department of Education will provide schools with a report via SD-STARS, allowing them to see which of their students qualify for the program.
This initiative not only benefits students, it’s a positive for the state and employers in the long-term. It also makes the SBAC test more meaningful for students.
