DACS diagnostic tool available free

For the sixth consecutive year, the South Dakota Department of Education will make Scantron’s Performance Series SM – also known as the Dakota Assessment of Content Standards (DACS) – available to South Dakota schools.

The assessments provide an effective diagnostic tool for teachers and administrators. They offer immediate feedback to impact classroom instruction and enhance student performance, as it relates to the South Dakota content standards. Performance Series assessments will be available in math, reading, science and language arts. A Learning Styles Inventory also will be available.

In addition, Skills Connection On-Line, an integrated teacher resource that provides immediate individualized resources for each student based on their assessment results, will be a part of the package.

Regional training sessions will take place Oct. 11-14, 2005. Training will be offered for any district personnel who want to use student assessment data from the Performance Series to impact classroom instruction immediately. An agenda and registration information will be e-mailed to schools in early September.

Scantron also will host a Performance Series 2005 Update via Web seminars. Session dates are below. For reservation and sign-on information, contact Nafisa Braimah at 1-800-722-6876 ext. 7501.

• Aug. 24 3:45 p.m. Central Time
• Aug. 31 3:45 p.m. Central Time
• Sept. 7 3:45 p.m. Mountain Time
• Sept. 14 3:45 p.m. Central Time

Questions about the DACS can be directed to Stephanie Weideman at the Department of Education, (605) 773-3783.