Office of Assessment

The goal of the South Dakota Department of Education is that all high school students graduate college, career, and life ready. To this aim, the South Dakota assessment system is designed to provide districts, schools, and parents with the information they need to ensure that their students remain on track to reach this goal. South Dakota public school students participate in annual summative testing in English language arts and mathematics and the results of these tests are included in the state accountability system. In addition to annual tests in English language arts and mathematics, South Dakota requires assessment of science and writing annually and provides schools and teachers with resources to utilize other assessments to help identify strengths and areas for improvement.

The Office of Assessment, housed within the Division of Assessment and Accountability, is responsible for implementing and supporting the SDDOE’s summative, interim, and formative assessment programs.

Key Assessment Dates for 2014
- DSTEP-A and NCSC Roadshow: Jan. 6-9, 2014
- DSTEP and Smarter Balanced Testing Roadshow: Feb. 24-27, 2014
- Additional SBAC Testing Trainings: March 4-6, 2014
Registrations for Assessment workshops will be handled through https://southdakota.gosignmeup.com/public/calendar/calendarindex

Test Windows
- DSTEP –A Test Window: Feb. 3 – March 14, 2014
- ACCESS for ELLs: Feb. 3 – March 7, 2014
- Smarter Balanced Field Test Window: March 18 – May 16, 2014
- DSTEP Science Window: March 31 – April 18, 2014
- WriteToLearn: September – April 30
- Benchmark Assessment Windows
    • Pre-Test: Sept 9-27, 2013
    • Interim 1: Dec 2-20, 2013
    • Interim 2: Mar 3-21, 2014
    • Post-Test: Apr 28 – May 16, 2014
- Full implementation of Common Core Assessments including SBAC and NCSC – 2014-15

Required Assessments

Name	Subject	Students
Smarter Balanced (SBAC) Field Test	English language arts Math	3-8, 11
National Center and State Collaborative (NCSC Alt Assessment)	English language arts Math	3-8, 11 Students with most severe cognitive disabilities
Dakota STEP Test (DSTEP)	Reading, Math Science	3-8, 11 5, 8, 11
Alternate Dakota STEP Test (DSTEP-A)	Reading, Math Science	3-8, 11 5, 8, 11 Students with most severe cognitive disabilities
WriteToLearn (WTL)	Writing	5, 7, 10
Alternate Writing Assessment	Writing	5, 7, 10 Students with most severe cognitive disabilities
National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)	Reading Math (every other year)	4, 8, 12
ACCESS/W-APT	Reading, Writing, Speaking, and Listening	K-12

Optional Assessments:

Name	Subject	Students
End of Course (EOC) (State Provided)	Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Biology, Physical Science, Physics, World History, US History, Chemistry, Spanish I, Government, Geography	Before Grade 9
End of Course (EOC) (District Created) Tests must be approved before the waiver will be granted	Any with an approved waiver	Before Grade 9
Course Equivalency (State Provided)	Algebra I, Algebra II, Geometry, Biology, Physical Science, Physics, World History, US History, Chemistry, Spanish I, Government, Geography	9-12
Course Equivalency (District Created)	Any	9-12
South Dakota Assessment Portal (SDAP)	Any	K-12
Benchmark/Interim	English language arts Math	3-8, 11
ACT	English, Math, Reading, Science, Writing (Optional)	11, 12
National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC)	Applied Mathematics, Locating Information, Reading for Information	11, 12
Accuplacer	Math, Reading, Writing	11, 12

USEFUL LINKS:
• Smarter Balanced (SBAC) Field Test

• National Center and State Collaborative (NCSC Alternative Assessment)

• Dakota STEP Test (DSTEP)

• Alternate Dakota STEP Test (DSTEP-A)

• WriteToLearn (WTL)

• Alternate Writing Assessment

• National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)

• ACCESS/W-APT

• Homeschool

Assessment Staff:

Name	Responsibilities	Contact Information
Abby Javurek-Humig	Director of the Division of Assessment and Accountability	Abby.Javurek-Humig@state.sd.us (605) 773–4708
Jan Martin	• Office Administrator • Smarter Balanced Assessment	Jan.Martin@state.sd.us (605) 773–3246
Matt Gill	• South Dakota Assessment Portal (SDAP) • WriteToLearn (WTL) • Benchmark Assessment • Smarter Balanced Digital Library • Alternate Assessments	Matthew.Gill@state.sd.us (605) 773–8193
Mike Rickert	• End of Course (EOC) • National Career Readiness Certificate (NCRC) • Smarter Balanced Digital Library	Michael.Rickert@state.sd.us (605) 773–3247
Alan Haarstad	• National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)	Alan.Haarstad@state.sd.us (605) 773–8064
Beth Schiltz, (Special Education Staff)	• Accommodations • Alternate Assessments	Beth.Schiltz@state.sd.us (605) 773–4257
Yutzil Rodriguez, (Title III Staff)	• English Language Learner (ELL) Assessments	Yutzil.Rodriguez@state.sd.us (605) 773–4698