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DACS—the online Dakota
Assessment of Content Standards—available next school year
South Dakota schools can count on having
the DACS—the online Dakota Assessment of Content Standards—available free of
charge during the 04-05 school year. The system will be continued for another
year due to popular demand and evidence of frequent use by many SD schools.
Standards-linked tests will be available in reading, mathematics (grades
2-12), science, language arts (grades 2-8); there will also be a learning
styles inventory and the “Skills Connection” tool.
In addition, the South Dakota Department
of Education (DOE) plans to offer workshops for principals and teachers in
Fall 2004 in order to promote its regular and frequent use as a classroom
tool. A trainer in each regional ESA will provide the workshops for schools
within the assigned area.
A recent USDOE Summit on Instructional
Technology emphasized the "customization" of instruction, driven by periodic
and targeted assessment that produces data that can be immediately applied to
the instruction. The online DACS is a good fit with the NCLB-driven vision,
and will provide SD teachers with a tool that can be used frequently to assess
the status of each student’s learning.
Questions about the DACS can be directed
to Stephanie Weideman at (605) 773-3783 or
stephanie.weideman@state.sd.us . |
