What is DCAS?

The Delaware Comprehensive Assessment System (DCAS) is an online, web-based scoring system for reading/English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies that will replace the current statewide testing program, the Delaware Student Testing Program (DSTP), in 2011.  The DCAS will provide a more accurate measure for student growth and more timely and detailed information to educators for planning and improving educational programs at the school, district and state level.  Additionally, DCAS will provide multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate proficiency and will provide academic achievement information to students and parents, including a measure of fall-to-spring and year-to-year individual student growth.

The purpose of the DCAS is four-fold:

• To provide valid and reliable test scores of student achievement of state academic standards;
• To provide valid and reliable information of each student's growth over time along the assessment scale;
• To provide the primary basis for student, school and school district accountability, pursuant to Delaware law and the No Child Left Behind Act (PL 107-110); and
• To provide schools and school districts with timely information useful for instructional program improvement. 

The Delaware online assessment system will consist of three components:

• Summative Assessments for grades 3 through 8 in reading and mathematics; and two grades each for science and social studies;
• Summative End-of-Course Assessments for high school in English language arts, mathematics, science and social studies; and
• Benchmark Growth Assessments for grades 2 through 10 in reading, mathematics and, optionally, science.