Please use this form to provide feedback to the South Carolina Department of Education on which non-federally required assessments should be considered for elimination. 

The Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) is the nation’s governing education law for all public schools. Below is an overview of ESSA testing requirements and how South Carolina has chosen to meet them. 

ESSA requires states to test students in reading or language arts and mathematics every year in grades 3-8 and once in grades 9 through 12.

• South Carolina fulfills the 3-8 testing requirements through the South Carolina College-and Career-Ready Assessments (SC READY) in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics.
• South Carolina fulfills the high school testing requirements through the English 2 End-of-Course Exam and the Algebra 1 End-of-Course Examination Program (EOCEP).

ESSA requires states to test students at least three times in science, once in 3-5, once in grade 6-9, and once in grades 10-12.

• South Carolina fulfills the science testing requirement through the South Carolina Palmetto Assessment of State Standards (SCPASS) administered to students in grades 4 and 6. In Fiscal Year 2021-22, the provisions of Section 59?18?325(C)(3) requiring science standards?based assessments of students in grade eight are suspended.
• South Carolina’s Biology 1 End-of-Course Examination Program fulfills the 10-12 science testing requirement.

ESSA requires that states administer an English language proficiency assessment to English language learners in grades K-12.

• South Carolina fulfills the English language proficiency testing requirement through the administration of ACCESS for ELLS for all students in grades K-12 who are determined to have limited English proficiency.

ESSA requires that states administer alternate assessments for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities.

• Alternate Assessments are mandated as an alternate to any census assessments (i.e., all students in a grade level are to be assessed). South Carolina fulfills the requirement for alternate assessments through the administration of the South Carolina Alternate Assessments (SC-Alt).

South Carolina assessments given that are NOT required by federal law:

• SCPASS Social Studies in grades 5 and 7 (SC Code 59-18-310). In Fiscal Year 2021-22, the provisions of Section 59?18?325(C)(3) requiring social studies standards?based assessments of students in grades five and seven are suspended.
• Ready to Work (R2W) Career Readiness Assessment in grade 11 (SC Code 59-18-325)
• U.S. History and the Constitution End of Course Exam (SC Code 59-18-310)
• Pre-K Readiness Assessments (SC Code 59-155-150)
• Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (SC Code 59-155-150)
• G&T Achievement and Ability tests (currently: Iowa Assessment and CogAT) (SC Code 59-29-170 & SBE Regulation R43-220)
• G&T Performance Tasks (SC Code 59-29-170 & SBE Regulation R43-220)
• SCPASS Science in one middle school grade (grade 6 or 8) (SC Code 59-18-310). In Fiscal Year 2021-22, the provisions of Section 59?18?325(C)(3) requiring science standards?based assessments of students in grade eight are suspended.
• College Entrance Examination OFFERED (The ACT or SAT) in grade 11 (SC Code 59-18-325)