South Dakota Curriculum, Technology, & Assessment

DACS Frequently Asked Questions

Q: What is the rationale for a statewide criterion referenced/standards-based test?

A: The legal answer is state law requires it. SDCL 13-3-55 mandates that every accredited school district, beginning in the spring of 2001-2002 school year, test students in grades 3, 6, & 10 using the criterion referenced test the state provides.

The educational answer is what every educator already knows: schools should test students to assess what they are learning. Good teachers understand the only way to know if there is progress in the classroom is to check for understanding of the subject matter. The state standards are of little value without some form of assessment to determine if students are learning what is required. A criterion referenced/standards-based test also gives educators feedback that can be used to make revisions to improve curriculum.

With more and more emphasis being placed on accountability, the public’s answer to the question is that schools need a means to inform stakeholders about their progress. Current forms of assessment meet part of that objective, but a state criterion referenced test can give schools the information they need to clearly demonstrate what their students know based on SD content standards, not national norms.

Q: How does the test work?

A: Students take the DACS test online through their school’s computer system. Once a school has received a site ID, it can then load the student data and prepare to put students online. Students are then brought to labs or other computer areas to log onto the system and begin taking the tests. Once a test is complete student scores and feedback on their progress is almost instantly presented online. Reports are also available to teachers, principals, and district-level officials for further analysis.

A school or a teacher can have their students log onto the site at www.edperformance.com at any time and take a test.  Individual teachers or schools decide how many tests to have their students take during the year.  At least two tests are recommended, one in the fall and one in the spring. 

Q: What is the Performance Series?

A: The Performance Series is an online Standards-based Adaptive Measurement designed for grades 2-12. The test is designed to be a criterion-referenced test that is aligned to South Dakota standards. A curriculum Alignment Guide is used to align the state standards to skills assessed in the Performance Series test. This process is done by adjusting the grade level of the skills to match the grade level of the specific standards. Once a student completes a test the reports will reflect the adjusted grade levels.

Q: How long does the test take?

A: On average a student can complete a test in approximately 40 - 45 minutes. The test is not timed. Students may continue to work as long as they need to complete each exam. If a student runs out of time, the test does allow the student to log out and log back in at a later time to complete it. When taking the test, the computer does not allow a student to go back and change an answer later once it has been entered, therefore, the security of a stop/restart system is not compromised.

Q: Are the Performance Series tests timed?

A: No, the students should be allowed as much time as needed to take the test.

Q: What happens if the test is stopped?

A: If a test is stopped before a student has finished, the test will resume at exactly the spot where the student left off. Students must resume testing within two weeks of stopping the test.

Q: Do all students see the same test?

A: No, since the Performance Series test is computer adaptive each test is unique for every student. Even if two students happen to have the same test question, the answers are scrambled, which increases test security. In addition, there are different forms of the item bank available and each student is randomly given a different form each time they take the test.

Q: What are the statewide testing windows?

A: The testing window for 2006-2007 is completely open for schools to test. Any school can test whenever their schedule permits.

Q: Who should administer the test?

A: DOE recommends that one person in each school district be designated as the district’s contact person / DACS coordinator. This person is responsible for training all proctors and making sure the student data is updated, enrolled, and that each student has been placed on the system. The person responsible for this position is selected by the district and is typically an administrator, counselor, teacher, or computer coordinator. Districts may want to establish one location controller in each school to help maintain the database and assist with testing.

Q: What is the "grade equivalency number" on the Performance test?

A: Right now when students read the results of their exams, the grade equivalency score shows them how well they answered questions based on their grade level. A student who scores an 8.5 will understand that he/she is scoring at the midpoint of the 8^th grade year in each category.

Q: What is certification training for the DACS?

A: Before a school may receive a site ID from DOE, at least one person from the school district must attend a certification training session in order to ensure that they know how to administer the DACS test. DOE recommends that a school district send the individual(s) responsible for administration of the test, plus a computer specialist designated to help set up the system. Training sessions take approximately 2 hours with additional support available through DOE if needed.

Q: How secure is the DACS test?

A: Very secure. Only schools that have been assigned site IDs and passwords by DOE may access the test online. School personnel will handle these two components as confidential information so that no school may access another school’s records. Students may enter the system once they have been enrolled by their school. Each student is assigned a unique ID assuring that students take their own test. While students are testing the likelihood of copying another student’s answers is remote, since the test adapts to the students’ answers and gives the next question based on their progress. Therefore, it is probable that few students will have the same questions on a computer screen at the same time since they work at various progress levels. Performance guarantees no information about a school or student will be released without expressed permission. The transmission of data between a school (computer) and the receiving web site server is also protected through an SSL (Secure Socket Layer). All data transmissions are encrypted to insure that anyone attempting to intercept the information cannot open the data files.

Q: Can a large number of students take the Performance test at the same time without significant delays on the Internet?

A: Yes. There is no longer any need to call in and "book" a time to take the test.  Students can log in and take a test at any time.

Q: What is the cost of the test to school districts?

A: Nothing. The Department of Education will pay the entire cost of each student’s test. All accredited schools may test students in as many grades as they wish as often as they wish during the school year.

Q: What technical specifications does a school need to give the DACS test?

A: A school needs a solid Internet connection, such as:

a T3, T1 or DSL lines, Internet Explorer (version 4.01 or newer) or Netscape ../navigator (version 4.0 or newer), A Windows PC (Pentium series or newer) or Macintosh (7.5 or newer).

Schools can certify that their hardware will work by visiting:
http://www.readingperformance.com/check/send.asp

Q: Whom should a school call for technical support?

A: All front line support calls, such as password problems, log-on problems, procedural questions about the test, student data management, report interpretation, and general testing concerns may be directed to the Department of Education. Contact Nette (Jeanette) Meade at 605-773-4662. Other problems may be directed to Scantron tech support at 1-800-445-3141.

Q: Is there evidence that the Performance tests are valid and reliable?

A: DOE is in the process of working with the BUROS Institute at the University of Nebraska on a validity and reliability study of the Performance test. We believe the study will demonstrate that the Performance products are a reliable and valid measure of the SD Content Standards. In addition, a comparison study of the Performance test and the SAT 9 assessments will be done to map the total picture of how the SD Content Standards are assessed.

Q: When will the addition of the science and language arts portions of the tests are completed?

A: Performance plans to have the science and language arts tests available by Spring 2002. However, only assessments in math and reading are required at this time.

Q: Do all schools have the hardware available to adequately administer an online test?

A: Yes. All public schools have received technical upgrades since 1999 through the Wiring the Schools program and the Connecting the Schools program to provide the necessary connectivity to link to the Internet. In the summer of 2001, over 16,000 computers were given to public school districts in the state to increase each individual district’s capacity and improve the computer ratios for their students.