Delaware Social Studies 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 social studies assessment – or test – helps students, families and teachers understand each student’s strengths and areas for growth on the state’s standards for social studies . The state’s standards for social studies outline what students should learn in each grade. Each state sets its own standards. Delaware adopted its original social studies standards in 1995, and refreshed these standards in 2017 to be more current. The goal of the social studies standards is to make certain all students leave Delaware schools able to become informed and active citizens who accept their responsibilities, understand their rights, and participate actively in society and government. 

The state’s social studies test is just one measure for understanding how a student is progressing in social studies. Other measures include the student’s grades, classroom exams, district-wide tests, and more. Working with the Delaware Social Studies Coalition , Delaware teachers helped develop Delaware’s social studies assessment. 

Please Note: Delaware is currently revising its social studies test to match the state’s refreshed standards. The information on this page describes Delaware’s revised test, which will be given to students staring in the 2018-19 school year. Timeline

• Students tested : Students in grades 4, 7 and 11
  • Alternate options: 
    • For students with significant disabilities: Alternate assessment
    • For students with complex communication needs: Delaware Comprehensive Portfolio System
• Accommodations/Assistance: Allowable accommodations ; definitions
• Test date : A field test will be given in 2018. Districts can choose to give this test between April 16 - June 1, 2018
• Cut scores : To be determined Summer 2019
• State/district results : 2016 and prior-year data (test not given in 2017 due to test revision)
• Test provider : Pearson Assessments
• Test type : Students are given a set of social studies documents and asked to apply their knowledge of social studies to answer questions on civics, economics, geography and history.
  • Grade 4 Sample Test
  • Grade 7 Sample Test
  • Grade 11 Sample Test
• Achievement Level Descriptors (ALDs): Achievement Level Descriptors describe a student’s degree of success on an assessment (i.e. well below standard, below standard, on standard, beyond standard).  The Delaware Department of Education (DDOE) created ALDs for social studies to assist with the standard-setting process for its DeSSA Social Studies Assessment.  ALDs can assist with score interpretation on student reports and assist teachers with understanding expectations for the progression of student learning and performance at each level of achievement during and after instruction. 
• Social Studies Balanced Assessment System (BAS) Model

• Delaware Social Studies Curriculum

  Provides families and educators with information and resources about in-class social studies instruction. Maintained by the Delaware Department of Education Standards and Instruction workgroup. 

• Delaware Social Studies Coalition (SSCD)

  SSCD is a partnership organization committed to improving the quality of K-12 social studies education in Delaware. One area of emphasis involves finding ways to help all Delaware public school students reach the Delaware Social Studies Standards.

• 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.