South Dakota
Member of the WIDA Consortium since 2008.
Assessments
South Dakota uses Kindergarten W-APT, WIDA MODEL for Kindergarten and WIDA Screener (for Grades 1-12) to identify English language learners. ACCESS for ELLs is given to all ELLs during the annual testing window, which typically lasts from late January through early March.
Testing Dates
| 1/11/21-2/26/21 | WIDA AMS test setup available for test sessions |
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| 1/8/21-1/11/21 | Districts receive test materials |
| 1/12/21-2/19/21 | Additional test materials ordering window in AMS |
| 1/25/21-2/26/21 | Test Window |
| 3/5/21 | Deadline for shipping completed test materials to DRC |
| 4/29/21 | Districts receive reports – Online |
| 5/10/21-5/11/21 | Districts receive reports – Printed |
Requirements and Resources
See below for state-specific information and resources related to ELL assessment, including your state’s ACCESS for ELLs Checklist, where you can find each step in the ACCESS testing process from beginning to end.
ACCESS for ELLs Online Checklist ACCESS for ELLs Paper ChecklistIdentification and Placement Guidance
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State Testing Requirements
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- South Dakota administers ACCESS for ELLs Online for students in Grades 1-12. The paper-based version of ACCESS for ELLs can be used for students who require it, as an accommodation as part of their IEP or 504 Plan.
- Kindergarten and Alternate ACCESS tests remain paper-based assessments.
- Students in Grades 4-5 keyboard their Writing domain responses.
- SEA approval is required to order any Writing response booklets for Grades 4-12.
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Test Preparation and Training
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- ACCESS training courses are available on the WIDA Secure Portal. Contact your District Test Coordinator to obtain an account.
- To be considered certified to administer WIDA assessments, including ACCESS for ELLs and WIDA Screener, Test Administrators must be a certified educator, review applicable training course in the WIDA Secure Portal, and pass the appropriate certification quiz with a score of 80% or higher.
- Test Administrators are not required to certify annually, but SD DOE strongly recommends test administrators certify annually for WIDA Screener and ACCESS for ELLs administration.
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Manuals and Test Materials
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Kindergarten W-APT and WIDA Screener training and test materials are located on the WIDA Secure Portal. Contact your District Test Coordinator for permissions to be added to your account.
Professional Learning
Starting Sept. 1, 2019, educators in South Dakota have access to WIDA's self-paced eWorkshops. View the eWorkshops flyer for full descriptions and intended audiences.
All eWorkshops are free and available in the eLearning Center in the WIDA Secure Portal. Don't have a WIDA Secure Portal account? Contact Yutzil Becker, Title III/WIDA Assessment Coordinator: (605) 773-6400; yutzil.becker@state.sd.us.
For information on additional available state assessment professional development offerings, please click the Professional Development Opportunities Schedule link on the SD DOE Title III page, and/or contact Yutzil Becker to be added to the EL/Assessment Coordinator listserv. This listserv is SD DOE’s primary means of communication with districts regarding all things EL/WIDA, including registration information for state EL PD offerings. To register for additional EL professional development opportunities, please visit Gosignmeup.