Council on Common Core Review Sends Recommendation on Testing to Gov. Hutchinson

LITTLE ROCK, AR (News release) – Lieutenant Governor Tim Griffin issued the following statement after Governor Hutchinson announced that the state will end the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) test and replace it with a test prepared by American College Testing (ACT):

 

“When the governor formed his Council on Common Core Review, he requested the Council’s initial recommendations in early summer. Time is of the essence for the governor and the Arkansas Department of Education, especially regarding testing, due to time constraints on contracting. As a result, the Council provided an expedited recommendation to the governor solely on the issue of testing and voted to end the PARCC test and replace it with a test prepared by ACT.”

 

“Over the next two weeks, we have three more stops on the listening tour—Batesville, Pine Bluff and Fort Smith—where we will continue to listen to and consider the perspectives of Arkansans. Upon conclusion of the listening tour, we will prepare our final findings and recommendations for the governor.”

 

The Council recommended using a test prepared by ACT for various reasons, including: the national recognition of ACT; the comparability between states; the minimal time spent testing relative to PARCC (about half the time of PARCC); and the ACT’s relevance to students.

Click here for more information on Common Core Review.

Click here for more information in a news release from the Arkansas Department of Education.

Click here for example ACT test questions.