SC READY and SCPASS Spring 2019 Testing

The South Carolina College- and Career- READY Assessments (SC READY) are statewide assessments in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics that are administered to students in grades 3 through 8. The South Carolina Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (SCPASS) are statewide assessments in science and social studies. Students in grades 4, 6, and 8 will be administered the science test. Students in grades 5 and 7 will be administered the social studies test.

These assessments are aligned to state standards and what is taught in your child’s classroom.  All students in the applicable grades are required to take the SC READY and SCPASS assessments except those who qualify for the South Carolina Alternative Assessment (SC-ALT).

This year, students in grades 3-5 will be administered the ELA Session 1 and Session 2 tests with a paper format. All other subjects will be administered in an online format. Students in grades 6-8 will complete all tests with the online format. Students with accommodations plans (i.e., IEPs, 504 Accommodations Plans, or ESOL Plans) are expected to test with the testing format identified in his/her plan (paper or online).

Schools will notify parents of your child’s testing schedule, which will occur during the May 8-June 5 testing window. SC READY and SCPASS tests are untimed for each day of testing; however, each session must be completed during a single day unless the student has an IEP, 504 Plan, or ESOL accommodation plan specifying administration of a single test over several days.

Items on SC READY will include selected response, multi-select (select a number of correct answers), short answer, evidence-based selected response, and text-dependent analysis. Students in grades 6-8 testing online will also have technology-enhanced items (e.g., drag or drop, text highlighting, graphing). Evidence-based selected response will require students to read a piece of text or a passage and choose the best answer from answer choices. Text-dependent analysis will require students to read a piece of text or a passage and draw upon that text for their extended written responses. SCPASS has been designed to assess higher levels of learning as well as basic skills. Items on SCPASS tests consists of multiple-choice items and technology-enhanced items (e.g., drag and drop, drop-down menu, hot spot).

To prepare students for online testing, a public version of the Online Tools Training (OTT) is available for students to interact with the testing software and tools before the “real” administration of the assessment. While the OTT simulates the test experience, correct answers and scores are not provided. A public version of the OTT is available at the SC Online Assessments website (Use Google Chrome to access this site.) This public version does not include audio for oral administration or video for sign language.

Testing Tips

Parents can be a great help to their child by following these suggestions. 

Students should:

• Rest on the nights before these tests. 
• Eat a nourishing breakfast on the morning of each test.
• Be in school and on time, except in cases of illness.
• Listen attentively to the teacher’s directions so he/she will know exactly what to do.
• Read each test question and each response carefully before selecting an answer choice.
• Stay calm, if there are questions that seem difficult.
• Mark his/her best answer.
• Refrain from bringing any electronic device that can be used for communicating, timing, or imaging into the testing location.

Parents should:

• Meet with your child’s teachers as often as necessary to discuss his/her progress. 
• Check or review your child’s homework, projects, or other school work.
• Ask teachers to suggest activities for you and your child to do at home to help prepare for tests and to improve your child’s understanding of schoolwork.
• Talk with your child about school.
• Provide positive feedback by praising your child for what he/she does well.

Help us help your child perform to the best of his or her ability.  For more information about testing or your child’s progress, please call your child’s school.