When are students tested? 1
3rd through 11th grades
What subjects are tested?1
Language Arts
Reading
Writing
Mathematics
Science
What types of questions are used? 1
Multiple choice
Examples of student work
How are test results used? 1
High school graduation (exit requirement)
Student diagnosis
Student promotion
Improvement of instruction
Program evaluation
School performance reporting
School takeovers
School awards or recognition
What tests are used? 1
Basic Skills Assessment Program (grades 3, 6, 8, 10)
Norm-referenced testing (grades 4, 5, 7, 9, 11)
Are students with disabilities exempt?
2, 3
Exemptions given as determined by IEP team.
What accommodations are available so
that students with disabilities can participate? 2
List of accommodations approved by state Department of Education.
How are scores of students with disabilities
reported? 2
For Basic Skills Assessment Program - Scores for students using "special
accommodations" will be combined ("aggregated") with other students and
subgroup reports.
For norm-referenced testing - If norms are still valid, scores of students
with disabilities are combined ("aggregated") with rest of students and
subgroup report; if norms are not valid, scores of students with
disabilities are not included in reports (only individual student scores
reported).
Footnotes:
1 Source: PEER Project Survey to expand and update information from Annual Survey of State Student Assessment Programs: Data on 1995-96 Statewide Student Assessment Programs. (Fall 1996). Council of Chief State School Officers.
2 Source: PEER Project review of state policy documents. Documents provided by the National Center on Educational Outcomes (NCEO). Information confirmed and updated by the PEER Project through direct communication with state officials.
3 NOTE: The IDEA Amendments of 1997 require that all students be included in statewide assessments.
South Carolina Department of Education
Office of Programs for Exceptional Children
1429 Senate Street, Rutledge Building, Room 808
Columbia, SC 29201
803-734-8806
803-734-4824 Fax
www.state.sc.us/sde/
Contact: Ora Spann, Director
ospann@sde.state.sc.us
Susan Agruso, State Assessment Directory
803-734-8298
South Carolina Parent Center on Disability
PRO-PARENTS
2712 Middleburg Drive, Suite 203
Columbia, SC 29204
803-779-3859 Voice & TDD
1-800-759-4776 in SC
803-252-4513 Fax
pro-parents@aol.com
Contact: Mary Eaddy