Tests set for many students in state
Arkansas public school students in grades three through eight will be taking the state’s Augmented Benchmark Exams in math and literacy this week. Fifth- and seventh-graders will also take state science tests.
The augmented test is a combination of Benchmark questions, which measure mastery of skills and concepts that Arkansas teachers have identified as important to know, and Iowa Test of Basic Skills questions. The Iowa test, a national test that is not specifically based on Arkansas’ math and literacy standards, is used to compare the achievement levels of Arkansas students to students nationally.
Results from the annual state tests are used in part to determine whether individual students need academic improvement plans and remediation. The test results also are used to categorize schools as “achieving” or “needs improvement” schools.
The Augmented Benchmark will make its final appearance in the spring of 2014. After that the state will go to an online exam system that will be based on the new national Common Core standards.
There are additional state exams on the horizon.
End-of-Course geometry exams are set for April 16-17, End-of-Course biology exams are April 23-24, and End-of-Course algebra I exams are May 7-8. First-, second- and ninth-graders took the Iowa Test of Basic Skills exams last week.
Schools official set for June exit
Linda Remele, deputy superintendent of learning services and chief academic officer in the Pulaski County Special School District, has announced she will resign at the end of June.
Remele, who said she needed to be able to spend more time with her family, has held the position for nearly two years.
She is a former teacher, counselor, assistant principal, principal and director of elementary education in the district. Remele had retired from the district in December 2004.
She returned to the system after the state Department of Education took control of the district in June 2011, when the state dissolved the School Board and dismissed the man who was superintendent at the time.
U.S. grant expands to aid 10 districts
A $2.3 million federal Partnership for Transition to Teaching Grant awarded to the University of Central Arkansas in 2011 to prepare math and science teachers for two school districts has now been expanded to serve eight more school districts.
The U.S. Department of Education originally awarded the grant to the University of Central Arkansas to preparemath and science teachers for the North Little Rock and Little Rock school districts.
The newly expanded grant permits the preparation of English and language arts teachers in addition to math and science instructors. The additional partnership school districts are the Carlisle, Dollarway, El Dorado, Harrison, Pine Bluff, Watson Chapel, West Memphis and White Hall school districts.
The grant supports efforts to recruit mid-career professionals and recent graduates with degrees outside of education and then help the recruits become teachers through alternative certification routes. Teacher candidates enrolled in the 36-hour Master of Arts in Teaching program at UCA can receive up to $5,000 in tuition.
Courses for the Master of Arts in Teaching program are offered primarily online. The deadline to apply for the Partnership for Transition to Teaching tuition grants is May 1.
“We are excited about the prospect of serving more school districts and students in different areas of the state of Arkansas,” Carolyn Williams, College of Education professor and principal investigator for the Partnership for Transition to Teaching grant, said.
“We are also looking forward to receiving funding applications from prospective English and Language Arts teachers,” Williams said.
The participating teacher candidates will earn preliminary teaching license and credentials while working as university intern teachers in the10 targeted partnership school districts. After earning master’s degrees using the grant funding, teachers are required to teach at least three years in high-need schools.
More information about the Transition to Teaching program and the Master of Arts in Teaching is available on the website uca.edu/MAT, by e-mailing transition@uca.edu or calling (501) 450-5443.
Programs to help kids, adults read
The University of Arkansas’ Conference Services section will offer eight summer reading-skills programs for children, beginning at age 4, through adults.
Tuition and materials fees vary by program level. The programs will begin the week of July 11 and will be at the University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences in Little Rock.
The programs for younger children are designed to build comprehension and teach phonics and fluency skills. Programs for older students and adults are geared toward improving comprehension and study skills, vocabulary and speed reading. The skills taught in the classes reinforce the importance of reading for pleasure and developing a lifelong love of books.
The programs, offered since 2003, are taught by instructors from the Institute of Reading Development.
Registration and other information is available at (888) 201-2448 between 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Monday-Friday and 7 a.m. to 6 p.m., Saturday-Sunday.
Arkansas, Pages 12 on 04/09/2013