Report shows grade inflation across state
This article was published January 12, 2010 at 11:01 a.m.
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Fifty-eight public high schools in Arkansas have been identified by the state Department of Education as inflating 20 percent or more of its grades. The report, issued Tuesday, affects students from those schools qualifying for an Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship.
The review compared grades of high school students taking Algebra I and Geometry with their scores on the 2009 End of Course exams. Grade inflation was said to occur at schools where at least 20 percent of the students made an A or B in the class but failed to score proficient or advanced on the corresponding exam.
“One of the main reasons for standardized tests is to make sure that the same level of rigor is being taught in classrooms across the state,” said Tom W. Kimbrell, the state’s Commissioner of Education “It is important for an Algebra I student in Mena to know he is receiving the same quality of instruction as an Algebra I student in Marion.”
The Arkansas School for the Deaf in Little Rock and the Springdale Alternative School had 100 percent grade inflation, according to the report. Turrell High School in Turrell had 84.2 percent, Emmet High School in Blevins had 81.3 percent and Dollarway High School in Pine Bluff had 77.8 percent.
Forty-six Arkansas high schools had no inflation at all.
The report, which was mandated by Act 2197 of 2005, is included in criteria for Arkansas Academic Challenge Scholarship qualification. Students from a school with grade inflation must either score a 19 or higher on the ACT or equivalent test or score proficient on all End of Course exams.
Read tomorrow's Arkansas Democrat-Gazette for full details.
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Comment on: Report shows grade inflation across state
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pat72209 says... January 12, 2010 at 2:26 p.m.
And how else would Arkansas students average above... oh let's see... about a D? Personally, I do not believe in having high school remedial classes in college. This is absurd. People used to have to qualify to attend college. Everyone IS NOT college material. I personally know that a multitude of people are just on the dole for "scholarships" and federal money to avoid growing up. Right before we voted for the "scholarship lottery" I read that Arkansas had a lot of scholarship money available and no one was applying for it. Hmmmmm....show me students that go to college with less than a 12th grade education that have achieved success in the business world. Yep. I am sure there are a few that did work hard to achieve success. I applaud them. AND there are a lot of people who have become rich without an education. I applaud them. Anyway, this is what I think.
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