SD-ACT to Replace Current Junior State Assessment in South Dakota
Beginning in Spring 2026, South Dakota public schools will use the ACT as the state assessment for juniors. This change is designed to provide more meaningful testing for students and families while supporting college and career planning.
This means that:
• All South Dakota public school juniors will take the SD-ACT online during
the school day at no cost.
• This will typically occur in March and include all testing subjects:
English, Reading, Math, Science, and Writing.
• The results will be used to measure student performance on district
and high school Accountability Report Cards.
• Students can retake the ACT at their own expense should they
wish to attempt to improve their scores.
Juniors (and seniors who wish to retest) will take the test during school hours on Tuesday, March 10. Juniors have been encouraged to prepare for the test using ACT test prep materials or Methodize test prep that is provided to them by the state. A parent guide is also attached.