South Dakota Curriculum, Technology, & Assessment (continued)

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.