End-of-course assessments required in certain instances

 The 2007-08 school year marks the first year that end-of-course assessments will be required for students taking high school credit prior to 9th grade and for those wishing to “test out” of a course. Districts that have received a waiver to offer either option have two choices when it comes to assessing: 1) They can use a state-created exam available online through the Achievement Series. 2) They can create their own exam, but it must be approved by the Department of Education.

“Any time you implement a new requirement it takes time to get everyone up to speed,” said Stephanie Weideman, the department’s director of curriculum, technology and assessment. “Certainly, it has taken us time to develop all of these new assessments, and we’ve got more work to do. The department will continue to work with districts on an individual basis as we iron out the details of this new requirement.”

Currently, state-created exams are available for 11 courses: Algebra 1, Algebra 2, Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Geometry, Government, Physical Science, Physics, U.S. History, and World History. You can view a “blueprint” of the type and distribution of questions on those exams on a new Web page. The blueprints will give districts an idea of what is contained in the state-created exam. The tests themselves will be available online through the Achievement Series this spring, although districts will need special log-on information to access them.

For those districts that choose to develop their own tests, the new Web page offers a “Blueprint Alignment Form,” which districts should review carefully prior to creating their own exam. The Blueprint Alignment Form offers guidelines for aligning a district-developed test to state content standards and the state-developed test.

“The Blueprint Alignment Form does two important things,” Weideman said. “It shows districts what the state expects in order to get approval of their test. It also helps to ensure consistency across the state regarding the expectations for student learning in these topic areas.”

If a state-created assessment is not available in a particular area, districts may create their own test but still need approval from the department. If a Blueprint Alignment Form is not available for a particular area, districts may follow the “Generic Blueprint,” also available on the Web site.

For a look at the blueprints, go to http://doe.sd.gov/octa/assessment/EOC/index.asp. For more information about end-of-course assessments, contact Carla Leingang at the Department of Education, (605) 773-8196. carla.leingang@state.sd.us.