Delaware ELA/Literacy Assessments

Every year, Delaware districts and charter schools administer a statewide English language arts (ELA)/literacy assessment for students in grades 3-8 and also once in high school (using the SAT). These assessments, alongside other recurring tests, create a balanced assessment system aimed at supporting student growth.

Importance of Student Assessments

Student assessments, commonly known as tests, play a crucial role in education. They provide valuable information for educators, students, families, policymakers, and communities:

For students and families: The state assessment helps identify student strengths and areas for improvement based on state standards.
For communities and policymakers: Assessment results help evaluate educational priorities, allocate resources, and set goals for schools and students.

While state assessments are essential, they’re just one piece of the puzzle. Other methods of tracking progress include grades, assignments, and district-wide tests.

General Overview

Delaware teachers played a significant role in developing Smarter’s ELA/literacy assessment, part of a comprehensive system that includes:

Summative tests: For accountability purposes.
Interim tests: For ongoing support.
Formative processes: Supported by resources in the Tools for Teachers.

In Delaware, K-12 educators are also required to screen, assess, and monitor students for written expression, reading, oral expression, listening comprehension, mathematics, behavior, and social emotional skills as part of Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) procedures. DDOE oversees related regulations and legislation, and helps guide districts and charters in meeting these requirements. Tools to assist educators in performing this work for reading in grades K-3 via Digital Delaware.

Test Details

Students tested: All students in grades 3-8 and once in high school (using the SAT).
Test overview: Beyond multiple-choice questions, focusing on writing, problem-solving, and critical thinking. Sample tests available through Smarter Balanced consortium.
Alternate options: An alternate assessment is available for students with significant disabilities.
State/District Scores: Accessible through the Delaware Open Data Portal.
Test providers: Smarter Balanced consortium (grades 3-8), SAT (high school).
- SAT resources are available on Schoology. To access Handbooks and Training Materials, enter Access Code: NJ2F-6K9C-9N64M.

Test Dates

Districts and charters choose to administer the test between early April and one week before the end of May each year. Review the full DeSSA and State-mandated Testing Calendar and download a PDF copy.

Test Names	Grades Tested	Test Dates
DeSSA ELA and Mathematics	Grades 3-8	April 8 – May 23
DeSSA ELA and Mathematics	Paper/Pencil accommodation	April 8 – May 2

Cut Scores

Cut Scores Chart:

Grade	Achievement Level 1	Achievement Level 2	Achievement Level 3	Achievement Level 4
3	2366 and below	2367 – 2431	2432 – 2489	2490 and above
4	2415 and below	2416 – 2472	2473 – 2532	2533 and above
5	2441 and below	2442 – 2501	2502 – 2581	2582 and above
6	2456 and below	2457 – 2530	2531 – 2617	2618 and above
7	2478 and below	2479 – 2551	2552 – 2648	2649 and above
8	2486 and below	2487 – 2566	2567 – 2667	2668 and above

Download a PDF of the ELA Performance Standards (ELA/Lit Scale Score Thresholds).

Delaware SAT Performance Levels.