South Dakota Curriculum, Technology, & Assessment (continued)

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.