COVID-19 impacts for 2020-21
As students head back to school, the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on data will be seen in several areas of SD-STARS.
First, since schools were closed during the state assessment testing window last year, users will notice the absence of state assessment results for English language arts, math, and science. The ACCESS test for English learners is administered in February. Therefore, ACCESS results for school year 2019-20 are appearing in the following SD-STARS reports: AS.008.00-A – ACCESS Test Takers, AC.025.00-A –English Learner Targets – Projected, and(?) EN.003.01-A – Student Profile.
Second, the College Board cancelled April ACT testing dates. This means there will be no test results for April 2020 in SD-STARS reports. Only September, October, December, and February dates currently show for school year 2019-20.
Third, the department will not be sending out proactive admissions or college readiness coursework letters in the fall of 2020, due to the lack of state assessment data and the likelihood that few of the 2021 senior class will have taken the ACT. Additionally, the SO.002.00-A – Proactive Admission and Remedial Coursework report in SD-STARS will not display data for school year 2020-21.