Testing Information

ACCESS for ELLs

January 30 – March 3, 2017

ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 is a secure large-scale English language proficiency assessment administered to Kindergarten through 12th grade students who have been identified as English language learners (ELLs). It is given annually in to monitor students' progress in acquiring academic English. ACCESS for ELLs 2.0 is aligned with the WIDA English Language Development Standards and assesses each of the four language domains of Listening, Speaking, Reading, and Writing. The assessment is available in both paper-based and online formats for Grades 1-12, while Kindergarten and Alternate ACCESS for ELLs are paper-based tests.

Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment

March 8 – May 5, 2017

The Smarter Balanced Summative Assessment measures student achievement in relation to our state standards in the areas of English language arts and mathematics. The online test uses adaptive testing technologies to the greatest extent possible to provide meaningful feedback and actionable data that teachers and other educators can use to help students succeed. In addition to providing overall scores in those two subjects, score reports will provide information on student performance in the following areas:

English: reading, writing, listening, and research
Math: concepts and procedures; problem solving and modeling/data analysis; and communicating reasoning

South Dakota Science Assessment

April 3 – May 5, 2017

The South Dakota Science Assessment measures student achievement in relation to our new state standards that were adopted in May 2015. As the test is organized around new standards, this spring will be a field test of new items and content organization.This means that reporting, if any, will be limited since standards for comparison cannot be determined until after testing is complete. Any results will be raw scores with no levels of achievement. The test will be given on the computer.

South Dakota Science Alternative Assessment

April 3 – May 5, 2017

South Dakota Science Alternate Assessment is an assessment developed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The SDSAA is based on alternate achievement standards which have been derived from and are connected to the state’s achievement standards. The overall goal of the SDSAA is to make sure that all students achieve increasingly higher academic outcomes and leave high school ready for such post-high school options such as college, career, and community participation.

MSAA (Alternative Assessment for ELA and Math)

March 27 – May 5, 2017

Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA) in the areas of English language arts and mathematics is an assessment developed for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. The MSAA is based on alternate achievement standards which have been derived from and are connected to the state’s achievement standards. The overall goal of the MSAA is to make sure that all students achieve increasingly higher academic outcomes and leave high school ready for such post-high school options such as college, career, and community participation.

Sturgis Elementary