Dakota STEP (State Test of Educational Progress) is the new assessment system for accountability in South Dakota schools. STEPs’ basic platform is the new Stanford 10 Abbreviated test, which was augmented to fully assess South Dakota Content Standards in Reading and Mathematics as required by No Child Left Behind. Science augmentation will be added before 2007 as per NCLB timelines.

Dakota STEP will be given at Grades 3-8 and 11. The augmented Stanford 10 Abbreviated will be un-timed and will yield both norm-referenced and standards-based scores. Subjects that will be assessed by the abbreviated form of the Stanford 10 Abbreviated (norm-referenced) will include Reading, Math, Science, Social Studies and Language Arts. Standards that will be assessed by the add-on augmentation are the SD Content Standards in Reading and Mathematics for each grade (2003), and eventually the SD Content Standards in Science for each grade (by 2007).

Merit’s language arts and math software programs correlate to the South Dakota Content Standards and can help students prepare for the Stanford 10 Abbreviated test. The content and format of Merit’s programs can help students develop and strengthen their test-taking skills as well as their reading, writing and math skills.

Merit reading software has been proven -- through rigorous, scientifically based research -- to increase both student reading comprehension and standardized test scores. Merit research study findings reveal that education software is an effective tool to improve test scores and academic performance.

Published: March 2005