ELEM (PK-6) Assessments
PreK and Kindergarten Readiness Assessments
Teaching Strategies GOLD® is an authentic, ongoing observational system for assessing children from birth through kindergarten. It helps teachers to observe children in the context of every day experiences, which is an effective way to learn what they know and can do. GOLD is based on 38 objectives for development and learning that include predictors of school success; teachers use them to focus their observations as they gather information to make classroom decisions. GOLD is administered to 4K students during the first 45 days of the school year and during the last 45 days of the school year.
Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA) is a developmentally appropriate instrument that measures a child’s school readiness across multiple domains. Understanding a child’s school readiness helps kindergarten teachers best meet the child’s needs, and it helps schools, families, communities and policy makers know how best to support young children as they enter the K-12 environment. KRA determines each child’s readiness level from an evaluation of four domains: Social Foundations, Language/Literacy, Mathematics, and Physical Well-Being. KRA provides a snapshot of students’ abilities at the beginning of the school year. KRA is administered to all 5K students during the first 45 days of the school year.
Gifted and Talented Assessments
Cognitive Abilities Test (CogAT) and Iowa Assessments (IOWA) for Grade 2 are used to identify students for Gifted and Talented programs. The identification of gifted and talented students is a multi-step process which consists of screening and referral, assessment of eligibility, and placement. The objective of the Grade 2 testing program is to evaluate each student for the purpose of placement into a district gifted and talented program.
Performance Task Assessment (PTA) is administered in late February each year.
The South Carolina College-and Career-Ready Assessments (SC READY) program is a statewide assessment in English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics administered to students in Grades 3–8, as well as Science for students in Grades 4 and 6.
SC READY Testing Reminders
-School specific testing dates will be communicated with families in advance.
-Parents should avoid making appointments and arranging other out-of-school functions on these days to prevent unnecessary absences.
-Students should get plenty of rest the nights before testing and arrive on time to school on test days. Testing will begin first thing in the morning.
-Testing will be administered online via a Secure Browser on YSD1 Chromebooks or in school Computer Labs. These assessments must be administered to students face-to-face on a YSD1 campus. You may view the Online Testing Tutorial and Training as well as other helpful resources at https://www.york.k12.sc.us/departments/instruction/testing-accountability/sc-ready
-During testing, students may not be in possession of any electronic device (including, but not limited to, cell phones, headphones, or smart watches). All electronic devices will be collected before students begin taking the tests and returned only after all students in the test session have completed the test.
In conjunction with York School District One Board policy, South Carolina Code of Law, South Carolina Department of Education Regulations, York School District One has established procedures for student participation in state assessments. It is a Testing Violation for a student to be in possession of any electronic device at any time during testing. If a student is found to have any electronic or other communication device during a state test the device is to be confiscated and will be directed to the School Testing Coordinator, District Testing Coordinator, and school administration for investigation and disciplinary action.