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Delaware Next Generation Science Assessment
Assessments are an integral part of the instructional cycle and fulfill several purposes for educators, students, parents, policy makers, and community members. Assessments administered at the state, district/charter, and school levels combine to form a system of assessments with the goal of supporting student growth.Delaware’s state science assessment – or test – helps students, families and teachers understand each student’s strengths and areas for growth on the state’s standards for science. The state’s standards for science outline what students should learn in each grade. Each state sets its own standards. In 2013, Delaware adopted the Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) as its state science standards. The goal of NGSS is to make certain all students leave Delaware schools able to apply their scientific knowledge to the real-world.The state’s science test is just one measure for understanding how a student is progressing in science. Other measures include the student’s grades, classroom exams, district-wide tests, and more. In Delaware schools, much of the work around transitioning to NGSS and developing the state’s revised science assessment has been led by Delaware's Science Coalition (link) and Delaware’s NextGen teachers (link).Please Note: Delaware is currently revising its yearly science test to match the state’s NGSS standards. The information on this page describes Delaware’s revised science test, which will be given to students staring in the 2018-19 school year. TimelineGeneral Overview- Students tested: Students in grades 5, 8 and high school biology
- Alternate options:
- For students with significant disabilities: Alternate assessment
- For students with complex communication needs: Delaware Comprehensive Portfolio System
- Alternate options:
- Accommodations/Assistance: Allowable accommodations; definitions
- Test date: 2018 test is a field test. Districts can choose to give between May 7-June 1, 2018
- Cut scores: Science cut scores
- State/district results: 2017 and prior-year data
- Test provider: Pearson Assessments and WestEd partnership
- Test type: Students apply their knowledge of science - in writing or by performing a task - to grade-level appropriate situations in order to solve unique, real-life problems. Sample test items
- In-class supports/resources:
- End-of-unit tests
Teachers have the option to use throughout the year. Identifies student strengths and areas for improvement. Given after a unit of science instruction, which is a section of science covering specific content. Can be used as a course grade.
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- Course quizzes
Teachers have the option to use throughout the year. Provides information on student learning in real time. Short and given more often than end-of-unit test.
Family and Educator ResourcesProvides families and educators with information and resources about in-class NGSS instruction. Maintained by the Delaware Department of Education Standards and Instruction workgroup.
Sample NGSS-aligned assessments for use in classrooms. Mirror the types of tasks that will be presented on Delaware's state science test.
Self-guided resources to help teachers understand the differences between past assessment strategies and NGSS expectations, including Delaware’s revised state test.
Provides a free topic-based item set and teacher guide sampler.
Starting points for assessment prompts.
Provides sample interactive tasks.
Great resource for Professional Learning Communities (PLCs). Users can print the book for free or purchase a bound copy for $39.95.
- Manual: Accessibility Guidelines
Contains the accessibility features policies and procedures for the following assessments: English language arts (ELA)/literacy and mathematics, science and social Studies, end-of-course assessments (US History, Algebra II and Integrated Math III) and the alternate assessment (Alt-1) for reading, mathematics, science, and social Studies.
- Students tested: Students in grades 5, 8 and high school biology
