How well Arkansas students are performing in the classroom is a question educators, parents and lawmakers want to know. That question was answered earlier this week with the release of the ACT Aspire preliminary scores, reflecting assessment of student learning in grades third through tenth.The ACT Aspire assessment system was developed specifically to measure what is most important for college and career readiness and to give evidence as early as third grade regarding student progress on the trajectory toward college and career readiness.Locally, when comparing the percent of students who met the readiness benchmark to the state as a whole, those in the Mountain Home School District scored above the state average in all but four of 56 areas. Those areas falling below the state average were third, fourth and eighth grade writing and fifth grade math.
Moutain Home Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Jake Long says school leaders are moving forward after reviewing the test results.
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Dr. Long says the superior scores are no surprise.
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At Cotter, like Mountain Home, the scores indicate students there scored above the state readiness benchmarks in all but four of 56 areas. Those areas falling below the state average were third grade reading, writing and the English, reading and writing average and eighth grade writing.
At Norfork, students fell below the state readiness benchmarks in 11 of the 56 areas. Those areas falling below the state average were fourth, fifth, sixth, eighth and ninth grade reading, third and sixth grade science, ninth grade mathematics, science and the science and mathematics average, and eighth grade writing.
State-wide, the Arkansas Department of Education reports students made significant improvements on the ACT Aspire in 2016-17. Results reflect statistically significant increases in the percentage of students who met readiness benchmarks in multiple grades and subject areas.
Each student participated in English, reading, writing, math and science tests during a window of time selected by the individual school district from April tenth through May 12th. In addition, scores are received for students reflecting the averaging of their English, reading and writing test scores (ELA) and an average of their science and mathematics scores (STEM).
Four to four and a half hours of total testing were performed per grade on computer-based administered exams.
Overall state education officials advise the largest increases occurred in grades sixth and eighth grade math and writing. Large gains occurred in writing for grades fourth through eighth, with a 21.72 percent increase in fifth grade. English Language Arts averages reflect statistically significant increases, particularly for fourth grade. Large gains in writing could be attributed to an extension of time on the writing portion, schools adapting to the new online testing format, high-quality professional development and classroom instruction specifically in the area of writing.
The scoring rubrics and readiness benchmarks did not change in 2017. As a result, Arkansas students responses were scored under the same criteria as in the first year of the tests administration.
For more information and to see school, district, state and national scores, visit the ADE website at http://www.arkansased.gov/divisions/learning-services/student-assessment/test-scores/year?y=2017 <https://t.e2ma.net/click/4faok/0gwymb/g5t1jc>.
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