Benchmark Exams Show Growth

For most Arkansas students now slipping into the slower routine of summer vacation, last year's standardized testing is not likely a top concern, but the results are in, and they're positive! Teachers, administrators, state education officials and lawmakers were pleased as scores were reported for the 2010 Arkansas Augmented Benchmark Exams and the Grade 11 Literacy Exam.

The results showed significant growth. Not only did more students score proficient and advanced for their grade levels than last year, showing an increase in math and literacy performance, but for the fourth year in a row, the achievement gaps among white, black and Hispanic students narrowed. "When you have the achievement gap closing while scores of each student subgroup improve, you know the system is working together to produce the right results. You can't ask for a much better trend than that," said Tom Kimbrell, Arkansas Commissioner of Education. Kimbrell attributed gains to the hard work of schools, teachers and communities, and he also credited the comprehensive reforms enacted by the state legislature after the Arkansas Supreme Court's 2002 mandate requiring the state to provide all students access to an adequate and equal education. Following the ruling, the 2003 Arkansas General Assembly passed a series of reforms, including the Public Education Reorganization Act, which ensures education resources are used effectively, helping make sure all students have access to equitable facilities, teachers and curricula. Other education reform legislation authorizes the state to require underperforming schools to participate in school improvement plans, to help students performing below grade level to achieve the expected standard.

"The continued positive trend in our students' benchmark exam results shows the reform is working," said Rep. Bill Abernathy (D-Mena), Chair of the House Education Committee. “We are pleased, but will remain diligent in improving our education system and diminishing the achievement gap among students."  For the 2010 testing, two-thirds or more of Arkansas students scored at proficient and advanced levels on 11of the 12 exams. The best overall scores were on the third-grade math benchmark, with 84 percent of students scoring proficient and advanced. The largest gain occurred on the seventh-grade math exam, where 75 percent of scores were proficient and advanced, an increase of seven percentage points from 2009. Results for the Grade 11 Literacy Exam were also up, increasing from 57 percent proficient and advanced in 2009, to 60 percent in 2010.

These results are combined with end-of-course exam results (to be released later) to determine improvement status for schools and districts under the federal No Child Left Behind Law. The state also conducts science benchmark exams for fifth and seventh grades, a practice begun in 2008. Scores on those tests improved by 16 percent for fifth-graders, but remained largely unchanged for seventh-grade students. The science scores are not included in yearly adequacy evaluations. The overall gains are encouraging and represent progress of which the state should be proud, but there is still much work to be done. Ensuring our children receive an adequate education not only prepares them for their future endeavors, but helps shape the future economic growth and development for our entire state. Lawmakers will keep working with educators and education leaders to make sure these advances in our education system continue.



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