What's on the DakotaSTEP?

Educators in South Dakota are well-versed in content standards-we're involved in writing them, revising them, mapping them, and teaching them. Teachers are also well aware that standards are assessed both formatively in the classroom, but also summatively on the DakotaSTEP test. I'm often asked what will be assessed on the DSTEP, and instead of just referring teachers to standards, I often refer them the the test blueprints found here http://doe.sd.gov/octa/assessment/dakSTEP/index.asp Just scroll down to the 2009 STEP section and you will find the blueprints for math, reading, and science.

The blueprints tell you not only what indicators will be assessed, but also which standards WILL and WILL NOT appear on the 2009 DSTEP, and how many questions per standard and strand. For example, in every grade level math test, algebra has the most questions with the measurement strand having the least questions. Reading and science follow the same protocol, with some strands heavily assessed and some with very few questions. Having the DSTEP blueprints will not solve every problem, but might provide teachers with more information about how to align curriculum as needed.