The State of Delaware Department of Education requires all students in public schools to participate in state assessments. These assessments provide teachers and parents with information about how the child is progressing.
“It also provides educators with information on how best to support your child, so they are ready for the next school year,” Trish Gerken, Public Information Officer for Milford School District, said. “The tests are just one of several indicators used to determine a child’s progress. Others include report cards, teacher feedback and classroom work.”
Multilingual learners in all grades are required to take the ACCESS assessment once each year. This is an annual English Language Proficiency (ELP) test that measure skills in listening, speaking, reading and writing in order to determine the child’s progress in acquiring academic English for subjects like math, science and language arts.
Students in grades 3 through 8 take the Smarter Balanced Assessments in English Language Arts and mathematics once in the spring. This is a computer-based assessment that is aligned with Common Core to measure if students are on track for college and career readiness.
Children in Grades 4 through 8 take the Delaware System of Student Assessments (DeSSA) social studies assessment multiple times through the year. This assessment is embedded in regular instruction. It is an online test, evaluating a student’s understanding of civics, economics, geography and history. Students in 11th grade take the DeSSA once in the spring.
The DeSSA science assessment is taken by students in grades 5 and 8 once in the spring while high school students enrolled in biology take the assessment in the spring as well.
In Grade 10, students take the PSAT10 for English language arts and math once in the spring. In Grade 11, they take the SAT for both subjects once in the spring.
Unique learners in grades 3 through 8, 10 and 11 can qualify for alternate assessments in English language arts, math and science. Unique learners are students with cognitive disabilities.
The English language arts and mathematics Smarter Balanced Assessment for students in grades 3-8 are online, adaptive tests designed so that all students can demonstrate what they know and can do on grade level standards. Student reports can be accessed in the family portal and are mailed home statewide over the summer.
Delaware recently redesigned social studies assessments for grades 4 through 8 with the assessment administered in the fall, winter and spring for grades 4, 6 and 8 on topics that correlate to what students are learning at that time. For grades 5 and 7, the assessment is administered in winter and spring on topics that correlate to what is being taught in the classroom at that time. Students in grade 11 will demonstrate their progress toward mastery in social studies with one assessment in the spring. This assessment aligns with Delaware’s Social Studies Standards and the Delaware State Standards for Literacy in History/Social Studies.
Milford School District has created an infographic for parents to follow related to their child’s required assessments.
All assessments include real-life performance tasks requiring a child to apply knowledge and skills across multiple content standards to increase critical thinking abilities. The tests are connected to classroom instruction, matching the skills and content students are learning and practicing in the classroom daily. Parents can visit the Delaware Department of Education assessment website to learn more.
As of December 10, 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA) was signed into law Section 1112(3)(2) of ESSA states that parents and families of students in Title I schools have a right to know about state or district policies regarding student participation in any assessments mandated by ESSA, including any policy, procedure, or parental right to opt students out of such assessments. For more information, contact Dr. Bobbie Kilgore, Ed.D., at 302-422-1600 or send an email.
