Assessment Information

Grade PreK:   

Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS):

Phonological Awareness Literacy Screening (PALS) is a formative assessment that is individually administered by the teacher. It measures preschoolers’ developing knowledge of important fundamentals in literacy skills: name writing ability, upper-case and lower-case alphabet recognition, letter sound and beginning sound production, print and word awareness, rhyme awareness, and nursery rhyme awareness. The assessment reflects skills that are predictive of future reading success and offers guidance to teachers for tailoring instruction to children’s specific needs. More information on this product is located on the PALS web site.

Kindergarten:

Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA):

The Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) is largely an observational assessment, which involves the teacher observing the student during the natural course of their school day activities. The information provided measures readiness for Kindergarten in four domains: Social Foundations, Language and Literacy, Mathematics, and Physical Well-Being and Motor Development. The KRA provides a snapshot of students’ abilities at the beginning of the school year to help teachers best meet the child’s needs, and to helps schools, families, communities and policy makers know how best to support young children as they enter the K-12 environment.

KRA Frequently Asked Questions.pdf

  

Elementary:

Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) and Iowa (IA):

The Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) and Iowa (IA) provide a complete picture of a child's aptitude and mastery of academic skills.  These assessments are given to all 2nd grade students to identify any student that qualify for gifted and talented services. The CogAT assesses Verbal, Nonverbal and Quantitative skills.   The IA is a reading and math norm-referenced achievement test.

Performance Task Assessment (PTA):

As part of the process to assist in the identification of students for participation in programs for the gifted and talented, the Performance Task Assessment (PTA) is given to qualifying students that have met one of the three dimensions for gifted and talented services.   PTA qualifies students for Dimension C.   

Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners(ACCESS for ELLs):

All students in grades K-12 who are determined to have limited English proficiency - based upon the completion of a Home Language Survey and the initial assessment of their English proficiency - must take ACCESS for ELLs each Spring.   This includes those students whose parents have waived direct ESOL services.

Students with limited English proficiency must continue to take ACCESS until they meet the requirements for full English proficiency as established by the the South Carolina Office of Federal and StateAccountability.

South Carolina College-and Career- Ready Assessment (SC READY):

The SC READY assessments are statewide assessments administered to students in grades three through eight in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics.   These assessments measure a student's proficiency of the English Language Arts and mathematics  state standards.   The results of these assessments are used in the calculation of each school's report card according to the guidelines set forth in the South Carolina Accountability Model.   These assessments are given within the last twenty days of school according to state law.   All students must participate in this assessment unless the student qualifies to take the South Carolina Alternate Assessment (SC-ALT).

South Carolina Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (SCPASS):

The SCPASS is a state assessment administered to students in grade 4 in the subject area of science.   This assessment measures a student's proficiency of the Science state standards.   The results of this assessment is used in the calculation of each school's report card according to the guidelines set forth in the South Carolina Accountability Model.  This assessment is given within the last twenty days of school according to state law.   All students must participate in this assessment unless the student qualifies to take the South Carolina Alternate Assessment (SC-ALT).

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP):

NAEP, also known as the Nation's Report Card, was first administered in 1969 and is the largest continuing and nationally representative assessment of what our nation's students know and can do in subjects such as mathematics, reading, science and writing. Standard administration practices are implemented to provide a common measure of student achievement.   Teachers, principals, parents, policymakers, and researchers all use NAEP results to assess progress and develop ways to improve education in the United States.   State-level results provide information about student achievement in South Carolina, while also allowing for comparisons between our state and other states, regions, and the nation. 

  

Nation's Report Card

South Carolina's Performance on NAEP

Curriculum Associates iReady( iReady Reading and iReady Mathematics):

iReady diagnostic assessments are computer-adaptive tests for  students in kindergarten through grade nine that measure reading and math skills.   Your child's teacher will use the data from his/her iReady diagnostic assessment to answer essential questions he or she has about your child's learning needs and to improve academic outcomes for all the students in the class.   These assessments are given three times a year (Fall, Winter, and Spring) and for some students given more frequently to monitor his or her progress.

Middle:

Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners(ACCESS for ELLs):

All students in grades K-12 who are determined to have limited English proficiency - based upon the completion of a Home Language Survey and the initial assessment of their English proficiency - must take ACCESS for ELLs each Spring.   This includes those students whose parents have waived direct ESOL services.

Students with limited English proficiency must continue to take ACCESS until they meet the requirements for full English proficiency as established by the the South Carolina Office of Federal and StateAccountability.

South Carolina College-and Career- Ready Assessment (SC READY):

The SC READY assessments are statewide assessments administered to students in grades three through eight in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics.   These assessments measure a student's proficiency of the English Language Arts and mathematics  state standards.   The results of these assessments are used in the calculation of each school's report card according to the guidelines set forth in the South Carolina Accountability Model.   These assessments are given within the last twenty days of school according to state law.   All students must participate in this assessment unless the student qualifies to take the South Carolina Alternate Assessment (SC-ALT).

South Carolina Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (SCPASS):

The SCPASS is a state assessment administered to students in grade 4 in the subject area of science.   This assessment measures a student's proficiency of the Science state standards.   The results of this assessment is used in the calculation of each school's report card according to the guidelines set forth in the South Carolina Accountability Model.  This assessment is given within the last twenty days of school according to state law.   All students must participate in this assessment unless the student qualifies to take the South Carolina Alternate Assessment (SC-ALT).

National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP):

NAEP, also known as the Nation's Report Card, was first administered in 1969 and is the largest continuing and nationally representative assessment of what our nation's students know and can do in subjects such as mathematics, reading, science and writing. Standard administration practices are implemented to provide a common measure of student achievement.   Teachers, principals, parents, policymakers, and researchers all use NAEP results to assess progress and develop ways to improve education in the United States.   State-level results provide information about student achievement in South Carolina, while also allowing for comparisons between our state and other states, regions, and the nation. 

Nation's Report Card

South Carolina's Performance on NAEP

Curriculum Associates iReady( iReady Reading and iReady Mathematics):

iReady diagnostic assessments are computer-adaptive tests for  students in kindergarten through grade nine that measure reading and math skills.   Your child's teacher will use the data from his/her iReady diagnostic assessment to answer essential questions he or she has about your child's learning needs and to improve academic outcomes for all the students in the class.   These assessments are given three times a year (Fall, Winter, and Spring) and for some students given more frequently to monitor his or her progress.

High:

American College Testing (ACT):

The  ACT test is a curriculum-based education and career -planning tool for high school students that assesses the mastery of college readiness standards.   Districts are required to offer all students in their 3rd year of high school the option of taking the SAT or ACT at no cost.   Each student determines his preference of the assessment he or she would like to take.   The ACT consists of subject area test in the content areas of English, reading, mathematics and science.   The test is a multiple choice assessment with the highest score possibly earning being a 36.   The test is generally taken after a student's junior or Senior year.

Additional Information about ACT

 

Armed Services  Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB):

The ASVAB is a multiple choice assessment used to determine a student's future academic and occupational success in one of the branches of the military.   The assessment consists of these sub tests,  Mathematics Knowledge, Arithmetic Reasoning, Word Knowledge, and Paragraph Comprehension, to provide the student with a Armed Forces Qualifying Score (AFQT).  The AFQT determines eligibility to enlist in the United States Armed Forces.   This assessment is used in the Accountability model as one way a student is deemed to be career ready.   Those students must have a score of 31 to be considered career ready.

End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP):

The EOCEP is a statewide assessment program of end-of-course tests for gateway courses awarded units of credit in English/language arts, mathematics, science and social studies.   The EOCEP encourages instruction in the specific standards for the courses, encourages student achievement, and documents the level of students' mastery of the academic standards. EOCEP examination scores count 20 percent in the calculation of the student's final grade in gateway courses.   Defined gateway courses currently include Algebra I, Intermediate Algebra, Biology I, English I, English 2, and the United States History and the Constitution.

To earn a South Carolina high school diploma, students are required to pass a high school credit course in science, and a high school credit course in United States history in which the state's end of course examinations are adminstered.   Currently these courses are Biology I (science) and United States History and the Constitution (social studies).

The results of this assessment is used in the calculation of each school's report card according to the guidelines set forth in the South Carolina Accountability Model.

Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT):

The  SAT is a college readiness assessment students taken during their junior or senior year.   Districts are required to offer all students in their 3rd year of high school the option of taking the SAT or ACT at no cost.   Each student determines his preference of the assessment he or she would like to take.  The SAT consists of the following tests:   Reading, Math, Writing and Language, and the SAT Essay.  Although some colleges do not require the SAT Essay Exam, the South Carolina State Department requires districts to include this test in the SAT administration.  

Additional Information on SAT

Ready to Work (R2W) Career Readiness:

The South Carolina Career Ready Test includes four component subtests - one soft skills specific assessment and three employability skills (math/reading/data) assessments.   Together the four assessments measure the most common transferable skills that employers nationwide define as foundational for career readiness.    The soft skills assessment measures the understanding of and the ability to apply essential work habits and professional skills that employers commonly define as required.  Those skills include communicating effectively, conveying professionalism, promoting teamwork and collaboration, and thinking critically and solving problems. The employability skills assessed are Work Ready Math, Work Ready Reading, and Work Ready Data assessment. 

Districts must administer the career readiness assessments to all students in their third year of high school.   Students in grade 12 may retake one or more parts of the Career Readiness Assessments.   

Students may earn credentials they may add to their portfolio.  These credentials show the degree to which students have mastered the skills assessed and their level of accomplishment.   There are four certificate levels: Achievement Level 5, Achievement Level 4, Achievement Level 3, and Achievement Level 2.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Website by SchoolMessenger Presence. © 2024 SchoolMessenger Corporation. All rights reserved.