Benchmark assessment pilot to begin in 2012-13

A small number of districts will participate in a state-run pilot related to online benchmark assessment during the 2012-13 school year.

The purpose of the pilot is to gain practical experience, at the school, district and state levels, related to three critical areas:

1) Delivering benchmark assessments
2) Delivering assessments online
3) Assessing mastery of the Common Core standards

Districts participating in the pilot project will test students in grades 3-8 and 11 in reading and math during four testing windows: September (pre-test), December (interim), March (interim), and May (post-test). The students to be tested on the benchmark assessments will be those students who are required to take the Dakota STEP (with some exceptions). Students will still be required to take the Dakota STEP.

The benchmark assessments will be administered online via the South Dakota Assessment Portal (SDAP). All of the items that make up the tests will be aligned to the Common Core standards.

The experiences of the pilot districts will be used to prepare districts across the state for the assessment challenges and opportunities coming in 2014-15.

For more information, contact Gay Pickner at the South Dakota Department of Education, (605) 773-3247.