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.



SD DOE Testing Dates for 2014-15 school year

NAEP – National Assessment of Education Process
    January 26 – March 13, 2015
    (sampled public schools only with students in grades 4 & 8)
    Districts and schools in the NAEP sample have been notified of their testing dates

ACCESS and ACCESS Alt (for ELL students)
    ACCESS: Feb. 2 – March 6, 2015
    ACCESS Alt: Feb. 2 - March 6, 2015

Smarter Balanced (ELA and Math Assessment)
    Grades 3 – 8: March 10 – May 15, 2015
    (testing can start after 66% of the school year is completed)
    Grade 11: March 30 – May 15, 2015
    (testing can start after 80% of the school year is completed)

NCSC (Alternate ELA and Math Assessment)
    March 30 – May 15, 2015

DSTEP Science and DSTEP Science Alt
    March 30 – April 24, 2015

• Homeschool

Required Assessments

Name Subject Students
Smarter Balanced (SBAC) 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) Science 5, 8, 11
Alternate Dakota STEP Test (DSTEP-A) Science 5, 8, 11
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:

• National Center and State Collaborative (NCSC Alternative Assessment)
• DTEP Science
• DSTEP Science Alt
• National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP)
• ACCESS/W-APT
• Homeschool
• Smarter Balanced Assessment portal
• Smarter Balanced Assessment information

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
Christina Booth • South Dakota Assessment Portal, Science Assessment, End of Course Christina.Booth@state.sd.us
(605) 773–6156
Yutzil Becker,
(Title III Staff)		 • English Language Learner (ELL) Assessments Yutzil.Becker@state.sd.us
(605) 773–4698
Ben Morrison
(Special Education Staff)		 • Alternate Assessments – NCSC and Science Ben.Morrison@state.sd.us
(605) 773–6119
Jonathan Nesladek • General Assessment Support, Home School, and Assessment Portal Jonathan.Nesladek@state.sd.us
(605) 773–3247
Mike Rickert • National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) Michael.Rickert@state.sd.us
(605) 773-8064
Beth Schiltz,
(Special Education Staff)		 • Accommodations
• Alternate Assessments 		Beth.Schiltz@state.sd.us
(605) 773–4257


Fall Assessment Workshop Presentations
Topic Slides Handout
NCRC Fall Assessment Workshop NCRC Fall Assessment Workshop Handout
NAEP NAEP Roadshow NAEP 2015 MyNAEP
EOC 2014 Fall Roadshow EOC Handout
SDAP 2014 Fall Roadshow –SDAP One page assessment portal
NCSC NCSC Roadshow Presentation  
ELL ACCESS for ELL  
HOME SCHOOL Home School Update DSTEP Science & Home School Updates
SCIENCE Science  
SMARTER BALANCED Smarter Balanced Update Smarter Balanced Update
DIGITAL LIBRARY Testing Roadshow – Digital Library Digital Library Overview
ACCOMMODATIONS SBAC Accom - Fall