The state of South Dakota selected Learning.com's 21st Century Skills Assessment to test all of the state's eighth-grade students to understand how well students grasp critical 21st century skills. The assessment correlates to the South Dakota Educational Technology Standards, developed and written by South Dakota educators who are experts in technology literacy and educational technology.

The online assessment authentically assesses students’ skills in:

• Creativity and Innovation
• Communication and Collaboration
• Research and Information Fluency
• Critical Thinking, Problem Solving and Decision Making
• Digital Citizenship
• Technology Operations and Concepts

"We are pleased that South Dakota is the first to use our 21st Century Skills Assessment for a statewide test," says Learning.com CEO William J. Kelly. "We worked with South Dakota in the previous school year to assess its students using our TechLiteracy Assessment, providing valuable data on students' technology proficiency. Our 21^st Century Skills Assessment takes that one significant step further, providing data on the critical skills that students need to be successful in life and work."

The assessment requires that students demonstrate their knowledge through both performance-based and multiple choice questions, and provides reports at the district, school, class and student levels. For statewide implementations, the assessment provides aggregated reporting for students in every district in which it is administered. The assessment was delivered in spring 2009, and will be administered again next spring.

The criterion-referenced assessment also provides multiple levels of proficiency: Advanced, Proficient, Basic and Below Basic overall and for each skill area, helping educators individualize instruction to meet students' needs.

About Learning.com

Learning.com, the premier provider of Web-delivered curriculum and assessment, partners with schools and districts all across the United States to improve student learning outcomes. The Portland, Ore.-based company is committed to supporting schools to integrate technology into core instruction and transform learning experiences through its understanding of Web-based teaching and learning. Founded in 1999, it serves nearly two million students in schools in 44 states. Its award-winning solutions are EasyTech, a proven, K-8 technology literacy curriculum that helps students develop and apply technology skills in math, language arts, social studies and science; TechLiteracy Assessment, provides valid measurement and reports for critical technology skills and knowledge for elementary and middle school students; 21st Century Skills Assessment, providing valid data on how well students grasp critical 21st century skills, and Aha!Math, an interactive K-5 supplemental math curriculum, and Aha!Science, an interactive science curriculum for grades 3-5. For more information, please visit www.learning.com or call 800-580-4640.