Arkansas Accountability Scores from 1984-2001
See Chart Below: To confirm scores call Donna Wolfe at ADE 501-682-4252
According to ADE documents An accountability law, Act 89 of 1983, required a norm referenced test (NRT) at three grade levels in order to compare Arkansas students to the rest of the nation.
A fact that no one in this entire educational debate has noted is that the tests scores the first years the Arkansas accountability system was implemented are higher than they are now. The scores for 1984-85 on the nationally normed tests were 61% in 4th grade; 57% in 7th Grade and 51% in 10th Grade. After the largest tax increase in state history in 1983 and increased funding from 1.4 billion in 1995 to 2.8 billion in 2001, the scores had decreased significantly to 51% in 5th grade, 51% in 7th grade, and 49% in 10th grade on the nationally normed tests. The averages for the last 7 tests tests indicate a consistent pattern with 2001 scores: 51% in 5th grade; 50% in 7th grade; and 48% in 10th grade.
You probably won’t see a table like this unless you compile it yourself. It is unbelievable that Arkansas set up an accountability system, and these scores have never been posted in a full picture or printed in a newspaper in full.
|
Year |
5th Grade |
7th Grade |
10th Grade |
|
1984 SRA Spring |
61% |
57% |
51% |
|
1985 MAT 6 Spring |
64% |
54% |
53% |
|
1986 MAT6 Spring |
66% |
58% |
54% |
|
1987 MAT 6 Spring |
66% |
58% |
54% |
|
1988 MAT-6 Spring |
66% |
59% |
55% |
|
1989 MAT 6 Spring |
67% |
60% |
56% |
|
1990 MAT 6 Spring |
67% |
61% |
58% |
|
1991 MAT 6 Spring |
65% |
60% |
57% |
|
1992 SAT-8 Spring |
52% |
51% |
49% |
|
1993 Spring SAT-8 |
51% |
49% |
52% |
|
1994 Spring SAT-8 |
52% |
51% |
50% |
|
1995 Spring SAT-8 |
50% |
50% |
49% |
|
1995 SAT-9 ? Fall |
55% |
54% |
52% |
|
1996 SAT-9 Fall |
46% |
47% |
46% |
|
1997 SAT-9 Fall |
47% |
48% |
47% |
|
1998 SAT-9Fall |
47% |
48% |
47% |
|
1999 SAT-9 Fall |
48% |
49% |
47% |
|
2000 SAT-9 Fall |
50% |
50% |
48 |
|
2001 SAT-9 Fall |
51% |
51% |
49% |
|
2002 No Test |
No Test This Year |
No Test This Year |
No Test This Year |
|
2003 SAT-9 Spring |
57% |
57% |
48% |
|
Average last 7 tests |
51 |
50 |
48 |
I was told by Donna Wolfe in Testing that the 2003 scores could not be compared to other scores unless they were equated because they were compared to a different sampling. I marked 2001 because that is when we have the financial data for comparison and I think that is last year SAT-9 tests were used for accountability. State benchmark tests began to be used after that.
Prepared by Debbie Pelley and Iris Stevens.
For our explanation as to why scores dropped, see www.afaar.org and from new item on home page choose “Why Scores Are Lower Now Than When Accountability System Was Established.” http://www.afaar.org/Test%20Scores%20in%20AR%201984-2003%20%20Why%20Lower.htm
www.afaar.org