South Kingstown previews SurveyWorks family survey and RICAS testing preparations

Office of Teaching and Learning administrator Seager presented two items: the statewide SurveyWorks family survey and the district’s preparations for the RICAS state assessments.

Seager said SurveyWorks is an annual RIDE survey launched in 2017 that solicits responses from students, families, faculty and staff across the state and provides longitudinal data for school improvement teams. The district launched its family‑survey communication the day of the meeting and is aiming to increase participation. "The more feedback, the better," Seager said, and noted the district often seeks to maximize family response rates to support meaningful interpretation of results.

Committee members asked whether SurveyWorks is open to respondents who are not district families; Seager said the survey is accessible to anyone with an Internet connection but emphasized the district prefers responses from families with students enrolled in South Kingstown.

Seager also outlined the district’s RICAS testing schedule and preparation plans. He said ELA and math components each consist of two sessions per subject and that most students take about two to two‑and‑a‑half hours per session, though the tests are not strictly timed. "As much time as students need, if they are productively working, we are compelled to afford that additional time up to dismissal," Seager said in response to a committee concern about students being forced to stop testing.

The district plans family communications in early March with practice items and samples created by Mr. Lonergan to help families prepare and to build student familiarity with computer‑based test procedures. Seager said the district will encourage the use of scratch paper and practice test sessions to develop students’ test‑taking routines.

Seager added the state is transitioning to a new testing portal and the district will use practice test resources while waiting for the new portal to go live.