District and State Testing

(updates coming soon)

Name of Assessment 

Subject Matter Assessed 

Grades Administered 

Purpose for how it is designed and used

Source of Requirement

Approximate Time Spent/ When Administered

Dates Administered 

Reporting Results

South Dakota English Language Arts Assessment South Dakota Math Assessment 

English Language Arts Mathematics

3-8, and 11

The Smarter Dakota ELA and Math Assessment is designed to align to the Common Core State Standards for English Language Arts and Mathematics. This set of computer adaptive assessments provides information about how students are performing in order to best support them moving forward. 

State

2 sessions, 1.5-2 hours each during the window March 1-May 5, 2023 

District Testing Window is from March 1-May 5, 2023  

Individual Student reports sent home prior to the end of the current school year

South Dakota Science Assessment (SDSA) 

Science 

5,8,11

The South Dakota Science Assessment (SDSA) is designed to align to the South Dakota Science Standards. This set of computer delivered assessments provides information about how students are performing in order to best support them moving forward.

State

1 session, 1-1.5 hours March 1 -May 5, 2023 

District Testing Window is from March 1-May 5, 2023 

Results available the following fall.

South Dakota Science Alternate Assessment

Science

5,8,11

The Science Alternate Training is available for students who have a significant cognitive disability and are working in the Extended Content and Alternate Academic Achievement Descriptors, and whose IEP's indicate alternate assessment for statewide testing.

State

Varies per student March 1 -May 5, 2023 

District Testing Window is from March 1-May 5, 2023 Grade level SPED teachers determine test dates within the district testing window.

Results available the following fall 

Northwest Evaluation Association: Measures of Academic Progress (NWEA MAP) 

Reading Math Science Language Arts

K-12

MAP® Growth™ measures what students know and informs what they’re ready to learn next. By dynamically adjusting to each student’s performance, MAP Growth creates a personalized assessment experience that accurately measures performance—whether a student performs on, above, or below grade level. 

District

4 Hours Total Fall, Spring, optional in Winter 

Fall Testing Window: August-November 2022 Winter Testing Window: Dec. 2022-January 2023 Spring Testing Window: February 2023-May 2023 Grade level teachers determine test dates

Fall Scores are reported to parents at fall conferences. Spring Results are shared at the end of the school year.

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

Reading Math

4, 8 (If selected) Every other year 

The National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) is the largest nationally representative and continuing assessment of what America's students know and can do in reading and mathematics.

National

2 Hours Winter Every other year

No required assessments in 2022- 2023 

Nation’s Report Card https://nces.ed.gov/nation sreportcard/ 

WIDA Screener

Language 

1-12 Students who qualify for ELL Services 

The WIDA Screener is an English language proficiency assessment given to incoming students in Grades 1-12 to assist educators with the identification of students as English learners (EL). The purpose of this assessment is to help educators make decisions about whether a student is deemed eligible for EL services.

State

1 school day

Within 30 days of enrollment 

Immediate results after administrator scores items. Families are notified immediately if ELL services can be provided. 

SD English Language Proficiency Assessment and SD-ELP Alt (ACCESS 2.0 and ACCESS Alt.)

Speaking Reading Writing Listening

All ELL students K-12

SD -ELP & SD-ELP-ALT 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 in WIDA Consortium member states to monitor students' progress in acquiring academic English. 

National

2 school days during the window: Jan 23-Feb 24, 2023

District testing January 23 — February 24, 2023 

Reports available in May. Letter are sent to parents

Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA)

Reading Math 

3-8, and 11 For students with the most severe cognitive disabilities

South Dakota’s Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA) is designed to assess skills in English Language Arts and Mathematics for student with significant cognitive disabilities in grades 3 through 8 and 11. 

State

Varies per student March 13-April 28, 2023 

District Testing Window is from March 13-April 28, 2023 Grade level SPED teachers determine test dates within the district testing window.

Reports sent home in July/August following spring administration 

National Career Readiness Certification (NCRC)

Applied Mathematics Locating Information Reading for Information 

12

The National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) test assessment is used in over 40 states to verify the employment skill level of job applicants. As an assessment of employable skills in three key skill areas, the NCRC has been issued to more than 2.3 million job applicants. The NCRC Certificate is a fully accepted credential of employment skills achievement, honored in most states. 

Optional, National

3 Hours January 23, 2023

23-Jan-23

Refer to High School Counselor

American College Testing (ACT) 

Reading Math Science 

10, 11,12 

The ACT® test is the nation’s most popular college entrance exam accepted and valued by all universities and colleges in the United States. The ACT is based on what students learn in high school and provides personalized information about their strengths for education and career planning. Find everything you need to know about registration, test prep, scores and more.

Optional, National

4 Hours 

Students register for test sessions.

Refer to High School Counselor

Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB)

General Science, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, Paragraph Comprehension, Mathematics Knowledge, Electronics Information, Auto Information, Shop Information, Mechanical Comprehension, Assembling Objects

11,12

The ASVAB is a multiple-aptitude battery that measures developed abilities and helps predict future academic and occupational success in the military. It is administered annually to more than one million military applicants, high school, and post-secondary students. 

Optional, National

Approx. 2.5 Hours October 24, 2022 

Scheduled through the High School Counselor’s Office October 24, 2022 

Refer to High School Counselor

SD State Assessment Schedule

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