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South Dakota Smarter Balanced
TIDE Quick Guide: Understanding Appeals
Understanding Appeals
In the normal flow of a test opportunity, a student takes the test in the Test Delivery System
(TDS) and then submits it. Next, TDS forwards the test for scoring, and then the Online
Reporting System (ORS) reports the tests scores.
Appeals are a way of interrupting this normal flow. A student may want to re -take a test or
have another test opportunity. A test administrator may want to invalidate a test because of a
hardware malfunction or an impropriety.
This quick guide describes two aspects of appeals: the types of appeals and the statuses of
appeals. For more information on how to create or view appeals, refer to the TIDE User Guide
on the South Dakota portal.
Types of Appeals
Table 1 lists the available types of appeals.
Table 1. Types of Appeals
Type
Description
Invalidations
Eliminates the test opportunity, and the student has no further opportunities for the
test. You can submit these appeals until the end of the test window.
Resets
Allows the student to restart a test opportunity, removing all responses on the test, or
allows the data entry operator to restart data entry. You can submit these appeals until
the end of the test window.
Re-opens
Re-opens a test whose window expired and the student never took the test.
Restores
Reverses a reset, restoring the student’s responses on the test when the reset was
processed.
Grace Period
Extensions
Allows the student to review previously answered questions upon logging back in to
the test after expiration of the pause rule. Loss of Internet access is often the reason
for requesting a Grace Period Extension.
WARNING: Timing of resets and restores Submit resets and restores at least one day prior
to the end of a test window so that students can complete their test opportunity.
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South Dakota Smarter Balanced
TIDE Quick Guide: Understanding Appeals
Status of Appeals
An appeal’s status can change throughout its life cycle. Table 2 lists the available statuses. Many
of the statuses have a corresponding reason or description that you can view in the Comments
column of the View Appeals page (see Error! Reference source not found.).
Table 2. Statuses of Appeals
Appeal Status
Description of Status
Error Occurred
An error occurred while the appeal was being processed.
Pending Approval
Appeal is pending approval.
Processed
Appeal was successfully processed and the test opportunity has been
updated.
Rejected
Appeal was rejected.
Rejected by System
Test Delivery System was unable to process the appeal.
Requires Resubmission
Appeal must be resubmitted.
Retracted
Originator retracted the appeal.
Submitted for
Processing
Appeal submitted to Test Delivery System for processing.
Available Appeals by Test Result Status
Table 3 lists the valid combinations of appeals and test statuses. For example, you can
invalidate a test that is in one of the following statuses: completed, denied, expired, paused,
reported, scored, or submitted.
Table 3. Available Appeals by Test Result Status
Test Result
Status
Invalidations
Resets
Re-opens
Restore
Grace Period
Extension





Completed





Denied





Expired





Paused





Pending





Processing










Review





Scored





Approved
Reported
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South Dakota Smarter Balanced
TIDE Quick Guide: Understanding Appeals





Submitted





Suspended





Invalidated





Started
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South Dakota Smarter Balanced
TIDE Quick Guide: Understanding Appeals
User Support
Hours of Operation:
The South Dakota Smarter Balanced Assessment Help Desk is open Monday–Friday from 7:00
a.m. to 7:00 p.m. ET (except holidays or as otherwise indicated on the South Dakota Smarter
Balanced Assessment portal).
Smarter Balanced Assessment Help Desk
Toll-Free Phone Support: 1-855-838-8378
Email Support: [email protected]
You may need to provide the following information:

Test Administrator name

SSIDs of affected students. Do not provide any other student information, as doing so may
violate FERPA policies.

Operating system and browser version information

Any error messages and codes that appeared, if applicable

Information about your network configuration, if known:
o Secure browser installation (to individual machines or network)
o Wired or wireless Internet network setup
Refer to the Help Desk Information Template on the South Dakota portal for a more detailed list
of information to provide the Help Desk when reporting an issue.
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