The "Measuring College and Career Readiness" report for each state represents a snapshot of the ACT-tested graduates in the class of 2009 and focuses on their readiness for college and careers. Designed to inform policymakers and practitioners about selected indicators of effectiveness, the report is not intended to be comprehensive but instead is designed to help stimulate discussion, inquiry and action. In interpreting and using the results, keep in mind that the number and percentage of students who took the ACT in any state determine how representative these findings are. The ACT Profile Report for each state provides information about the performance of 2009 graduating seniors who took the ACT as sophomores, juniors or seniors. The reports focus on performance, access, course selection, course rigor, college readiness, awareness, and articulation. This report for the state of South Dakota is organized around six questions that are driving national and state efforts to strengthen K-12 education: (1) Are your students prepared for college and careers? (2) Do your standards reflect college and career readiness? (3) Are enough of your students taking core courses? (4) Are your core courses rigorous enough? (5) Are your younger students on track for college and careers? and (6) Are you collecting the right data to keep students on track for college and careers? (Contains 7 endnotes.) [This state report is part of "ACT Profile Report: National--Graduating Class 2009" (ED506367) and "National Overview: Measuring College and Career Readiness--The Class of 2009" (ED506368).]
- Authorizing Institution
- ACT, Inc.
- Education Level
- ['High Schools', 'Higher Education']
- Location
- South Dakota
- Peer Reviewed
- F
- Publication Type
- ['Numerical/Quantitative Data', 'Reports - Research']
- Published in
- United States of America
Table of Contents
- Measuring College and Career Readiness The Class of 2009 2
- South Dakota at a Glance The Class of 2009 3
- State of college readiness in South Dakota 3
- South Dakota at a Glance The Class of 2009 cont. 4
- Level of participation in South Dakota 4
- Trends in student performance in South Dakota 4
- South Dakota at a Glance The Class of 2009 cont. 5
- Key Questions 6
- Are your students prepared for college and careers 7
- More students need to be ready for college-level courses 7
- Are your students prepared for college and careers 8
- Some student groups are more prepared than others for 8
- College English Composition 8
- College Algebra 8
- Are your students prepared for college and careers 9
- Some student groups are more prepared than others for 9
- College Social Sciences 9
- College Biology 9
- Are your students prepared for college and careers 10
- Job openings and students interests dont coincide 10
- Preparation varies for careers in high-growth fi elds 10
- Do your standards refl ect college and career readiness 11
- Are enough of your students taking core courses 12
- Students who take a core curriculum or more perform better than students who do not 12
- Are your core courses rigorous enough 13
- Students taking math courses beyond the core curriculum are more prepared than their peers 13
- Are your core courses rigorous enough 14
- Students taking science courses beyond the core curriculum are more prepared than their peers 14
- Are your younger students on track for college and careers 15
- Early preparation is essential to college readiness and success 15
- Are you collecting the right data to keep students on track for college and careers 16
- South Dakota has 7 of the 10 essential data elements 16
- Notes and Next Steps 17
- Resources ACTs College Readiness Standards 18
- Resources 2009 ACT State Averages and Percentages of Graduates Tested 20
- Resources Statewide Partnerships in College and Career Readiness 22
- Resources ACT Research 23
- Endnotes 24
- ACT National and Field Offices 25
