OKLAHOMA CITY —
Students who are unable to meet certain requirements under the Achieving Classroom Excellence Act (ACE) would still be able to graduate under legislation filed recently by Sen. Earl Garrison. Senate Bill 11 would allow a composite score of 18 or higher (equivalent to the 34th percentile or higher) on the ACT exam to count as satisfactorily completing all of the ACE end-of-instruction testing requirements.
“I believe it important for students to demonstrate competency across core subject areas,” said Edmond Public Schools Superintendent David Goin. “A general composite score alone would seem to me insufficient to meet that requirement.”
Goin went on to say alternative means for demonstrating subject-area competency have been identified by the state and are being accessed for Edmond high school students.
“The introduction of this bill could stimulate good discussion about the quality of current alternative assessments and appropriateness of achievement thresholds,” Goin added.
Garrison, D-Muskogee, said not all students are able to test in the same way and be successful.
“We have students who are not able to pass all of their end-of-instruction tests, but can get an 18 on the ACT,” Garrison said. “Students will still have to pass all of their required courses, this is just another option to help our students graduate.”
The ACT consists of four tests in English, Mathematics, Reading and Science Reasoning. All four-year colleges and universities in the U.S. accept this standardized test. Currently, portions of the ACT test can be used as alternative tests for certain ACE subject tests.
“The ACT has been around for over 50 years and its validity is well established and it’s more closely aligned with the curriculum being taught,” Garrison said. “Not only will allowing the ACT to be used in place of the end-of-instruction tests benefit students, it will also save the state millions as the ACT test is paid for by the students, whereas the end-of-instruction tests are paid for by the state.”
Education
Senate bill would modify graduation test requirements
- Education
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Edmond schools receive Healthy Schools Incentive Grant
Edmond is one of 26 school districts to be awarded a Healthy Schools Incentive Grant from the Oklahoma Tobacco Settlement Endowment Trust.
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Edmond Memorial alumni provide scholarships
The Edmond Memorial Alumni Association offers two scholarship each year to two graduating seniors from Edmond Memorial High School who plan to attend the University of Central Oklahoma.
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Parents Helping Parents schedules meeting
The Edmond Chapter of Parents Helping Parents will meet at 6:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Oklahoma Blood Institute’s private meeting room at 33rd and Broadway. Scott Van Krevelen, CADC and director of “The Van’s House” (www.vanshouse.com), will speak on the topic of “Enabling vs. Helping.”
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John Ross psychologist named School Psychologist of the Year
John Ross Elementary School Psychologist Nicole Marler has been named the School Psychologist of the Year by the Oklahoma School Psychological Association. She received her award at the OSPA spring conference last month in Tulsa.
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2 Edmond schools achieve Great Expectations status
Two Edmond elementary schools achieved Great Expectations Model School status this week.
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41-year administrator retiring but has no plans to quit educating
As Lynne Rowley, executive director of elementary education, reminisced over the past 41 years she has worked in education, she shared what it was like when she first started teaching in the Edmond School District, how things have changed and her plans for retirement.
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UCO looking for nominations for Distinguished Alumni, Family of the Year
For more than 50 years, UCO has honored its most outstanding alumni with the Distinguished Alumni Award and the Family of the Year Award. These are the highest honors alumni can receive. These individuals truly are Central’s brightest shining stars. The award recognizes their outstanding accomplishments in education, arts and sciences,
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UCO School of Music opens new center for historical performance
The University of Central Oklahoma School of Music recently announced the opening of the UCO Center for Historical Performance, a new endeavor focused specifically on understanding and presenting music from the past utilizing historical instruments like the recorder, harp, natural horn and harpsichord.
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UCO’s AAUP chapter honors faculty for service
The University of Central Oklahoma’s chapter of the American Association of University Professors recently recognized five award recipients at a recognition ceremony in the Robert S. Kerr Room located in the Nigh University Center.
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Kindergartners say they are ‘Ready for first grade’
As more than 1,600 Edmond Public School kindergartners await their graduation to first grade they have mixed feelings, much like their senior counterparts graduating this month.
“My graduating kindergartners told me they were scared, proud, happy and nervous,” said Karen McBride, one of six Centennial kindergarten teachers. “After we looked at our slide show yesterday, two of my boys came up to me and said the slide show made them want to cry.” - More Education Headlines
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Edmond schools receive Healthy Schools Incentive Grant
