Assessment and Accountability
On December 10, 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA) was signed into law. Section 1112(e)(2) of ESSA states that parents and families of students in Title I schools have a right to know about state or district policies regarding student participation in any assessments mandated by ESSA, including any policy, procedure, or parental right to opt students out of such assessments. If you would like to receive information about this topic, please contact us.
Each spring, all students participate in standardized end of year state assessments that provide you and your child’s teachers with information about how your child is progressing academically. This helps educators know how to best support your child to ensure your child is ready for the next grade level and, ultimately, success in life. The tests are one of several indicators in combination with report cards, teacher feedback and classroom work, that create a complete picture of a student’s progress in school.
Smarter Balanced:
Students in grades 3 to 8 take the Smarter Assessment in English language arts and mathematics. These online, adaptive tests are designed so that students can demonstrate what they know and can do, including those who are learning English or have special needs. Your child’s teacher receives results in about three weeks after students take the assessment. Family reports are mailed home statewide over the summer.
SAT:
High School students in Delaware are required to complete the SAT during the school day in 11th grade. The SAT has been redesigned. The new SAT, which is aligned to the language arts and mathematics standards that Delaware adopted in 2010, focuses on the skills and knowledge students will need to succeed in life after high school. The redesigned test has three components: evidence-based reading and writing, math, and an essay. Based on the latest research, the questions in each component focus on the skills that matter most for students to succeed after high school either in college or in careers. In
addition, the new SAT no longer penalizes students for guessing. Students simply earn points for the questions they answer correctly.
addition, the new SAT no longer penalizes students for guessing. Students simply earn points for the questions they answer correctly.
DeSSA Science and Social Studies
There are also requirements for annual end of year science and social studies testing. In science, students in grades 5 and 8 take the DeSSA Next Generation Science Assessment. This assessment asks students to demonstrate their progress toward mastery of the Next Generation Science Standards, or NGSS. DeSSA Social Studies is the state’s student testing program for social studies for grades 4, 7, and 11. This is aligned to Delaware’s Social Studies Standards and the Delaware State Standards for Literacy in History/ Social Studies.
All statewide, accountability assessments are computer-based and are taken in-person at school. As with all statewide assessments, teachers will use end of year assessment scores as one of many measures to determine your child’s progress. The scores will be included with multiple measures to identify strengths and weaknesses in your child’s learning pattern to identify ongoing strategies to best meet the needs of your child. For parent resources about these assessments, please visit www.delexcels.org
For information regarding the Smarter Balanced Assessments please, access the link below:
http://www.smarterbalanced.org/
http://www.smarterbalanced.org/
For information regarding the Delaware School Report Card, please access the link below:
For information regarding the SAT, please access the links below: