Spring 2024 SC READY

The South Carolina College- and Career-Ready Assessment (SC READY) program is a statewide assessment in English Language Arts (ELA) and mathematics administered to students in grades 3-8, while the SC READY science assessment is administered to students in grades 4 and 6. This spring, students in grades 3-8 will also be administered an ELA Text-Dependent Writing (TDW) field test. Students and schools will not receive results from the ELA TDW field test. 

All students are required to participate in SC READY at the applicable grades with the exception of students who qualify to participate in Alternate Assessments. All testing will be conducted at each school’s physical location. Remote testing is unavailable.

Schools will schedule students for testing within the district’s testing window. The ELA TDW field test will be scheduled April 10-May 22, whereas the core tests will be administered April 25-May 22. Your school administrator will contact you with your child(ren)’s testing schedule. 

Students enrolled in Greenville County Schools Virtual Program (GCSVP) will test at their school of enrollment on the dates identified on the district’s testing calendar. Additional information regarding testing for GCSVP students will be provided by your child’s school of enrollment.

Tests will be administered via the online testing format unless the student has an IEP, 504 Accommodations Plan, or Individualized Language Acquisition Plan specifying the paper format is needed. Students will need to bring their charged district-issued device to school each day of testing. As students will test online using a device (e.g., Chromebook, computer), students are expected to refrain from bringing any electronic device that can be used for communicating, timing, or imaging (e.g., cell phone, smart watch) into the testing location. Electronic devices will be collected by the test administrator before testing and returned after each test session is completed. Per the SC Department of Education (SCDE), if a student has a prohibited electronic device accessible and is suspected of using the device for cheating/sharing of content or if there is evidence of cheating/sharing content, possible penalties may include the following: disciplinary action at the school and/or not receiving a test score/test invalidation. Additionally, the SCDE could pursue criminal investigation and possible criminal charges or civil or legal sanctions.

Items on SC READY will include selected response, multi-select (select a number of correct answers), evidence-based selected response, and text-dependent analysis. Evidence-based selected responses will require students to read a piece of text or a passage and choose the best answer from four available answer options. 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. SC READY online tests may also include technology-enhanced items (e.g., drag or drop, text highlighting, drop down list). 

To prepare for online testing, students are encouraged to complete the DRC INSIGHT Online Assessment Tutorial and Online Tools Training (use Google Chrome to access this site; select “DRC INSIGHT ONLINE ASSESSMENT TUTORIAL” and “SC READY ONLINE TOOLS TRAINING”), which allows students to learn more about the online assessments and interact with the testing software and tools before the “real” test administration. While the Online Tools Training simulates the test experience, correct answers and scores are not provided. The Online Tools Training includes audio for oral administration (TTS) and video for sign language (VSL). 

To learn more about the SC READY assessments, please visit the SC Department of Education’s SC READY page and SC READY Information for Parents - South Carolina Department of Education.

Testing Tips

Students and parents can work together to make sure they are well prepared 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 they 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 the best answer.
• Refrain from bringing any electronic device that can be used for communicating, timing, or imaging into the testing location. Per the SCDE test administration requirements, students will be directed to turn in their electronic devices (e.g., cell phones) prior to the start of the test session. 

Parents should:

• Meet with your child’s teachers as often as necessary to discuss their 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 they do 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.