State's tweaks on tests OK'd by U.S.
As the spring state-mandated student testing season approaches, the U.S. Department of Education last week approved some changes in testing requirements that were requested by the Arkansas Department of Education.
Starting in March and going into May, thousands of Arkansas public-school students will take new Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) exams in math and literacy. The tests, developed by a consortium of about a dozen states, replace the Arkansas Benchmark Exams and most of the state End of Course exams.
The federal government granted the state's request that middle school students be required to take the exams for the math courses in which they are enrolled -- sixth-, seventh- or eighth-grade math or algebra I, geometry or algebra II. An eighth-grader, for example, won't have to take the middle school math tests if the student is taking algebra I. That student would just take the End of Course algebra I assessments.
Additionally, the federal government agreed to make the algebra II test and 11th-grade English-language arts/literacy tests optional for districts to give students this school year. Those schools that choose not to give the algebra II or 11th-grade literacy test are required, however, to administer another college and career readiness exam, such as the ACT college entrance test.
$50,000 available to pay GED fees
The Walmart Foundation has made a $50,000 grant to the Arkansas Literacy Council to help eligible students with the cost of the General Educational Development (GED) test.
Students interested in the grant will need to apply for the scholarship, which is based on income. The grant will pay the $16 fee that is charged to the student.
The Arkansas Department of Career Education's Adult Education Division will manage the grant.
More information is available from local adult education centers or by emailing ged@arkansas.gov.
District gets OK on conversion charter
The Arkansas Board of Education on Thursday accepted the decision of the Charter Authorizing Panel to approve the Fountain Lake School District's proposal to make its high school a conversion charter school for up to 800 students in grades nine through 12.
The Garland County district's plan calls for establishing "career pathways" in fields such as health sciences and enabling students to earn college hours, industry certificates or both while in high school. The charter school would feature a more flexible instructional day to give students the opportunity for career exploration. The approved charter plan enables the district to hire noncertified but skilled instructors in specialty areas.
Sen. Elliott picked to head nonprofit
Sen. Joyce Elliott, D-Little Rock, has been elected chairman of the Southern Regional Education Board's Legislative Advisory Council.
Elliott, a former high school English teacher and state representative, joined the Southern Regional Education Board in 2009. The board is a nonpartisan, nonprofit organization that works with 16 states to improve public education.
State Desk on 01/11/2015