Higher Education Subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council

1. Higher Education Subcommittee of the Arkansas Legislative Council Task Force on Higher Education Remediation, Retention and Graduation Rates “College Readiness and Reduced Remediation – Access and Equity for All Arkansas Students: Past, Present and Future” Glen Gullikson Judy Trice ACT Southwest Region April 15, 2008

2. Arkansas EPAS (Educational Planning and Assessment System) utilizes three programs: EXPLORE - Grade 8 PLAN - Grade 10 ACT - Grades 11 & 12

3. Arkansas EPAS Purposes: • Raise academic standards, expand college access and success for ALL students • Reduce college remediation • Improve student preparation for important transitions • Foster effective school improvement programs • Improve articulation between secondary and postsecondary education/training

4. Statewide Partnerships in College and Work Readiness 2007                       EXPLORE eighth- and ninth-grade students PLAN tenth-grade students ACT eleventh- and twelfth-grade students National Career Readiness Certificate Program Testing more than 60% of graduates with ACT 

5. Arkansas EPAS Components • Assessment in English Mathematics Reading Science • Interest Inventory • Needs Assessment • Instructional Support • Evaluation

6. Common Score Scale 1 25 32 36 EXPLORE PLAN The ACT

7. Arkansas EPAS Participants 2006 - 2007 Number EXPLORE 8th Graders 24,118 PLAN 10th Graders 24,490 ACT Class of 2007 21,403

8. EXPLORE Growth Fall of Fall of Score Needed 1995 2006 to Attain 19 on ACT English 12.7 13.5 14.0 Mathematics 13.1 14.4 15.0 Reading 12.9 13.7 14.0 Science 13.1 15.6 Composite 13.1 14.5

9. PLAN Growth Fall of Fall of Score Needed 1995 2006 to Attain 19 on ACT English 15.9 16.4 16.0 Mathematics 15.3 16.9 17.0 Reading 15.2 16.2 15.0 Science 16.5 17.5 Composite 15.9 16.9

10. ACT Growth Class of 1996 Class of 2007 English 20.4 20.5 Mathematics 19.3 19.9 Reading 20.8 20.9 Science 20.3 20.2 Composite 20.3 20.5

11. Arkansas Fall College GPAby ACT Score Range Score Range Average GPA 1-15 1.84 16-19 2.16 20-23 2.44 24-27 2.93 28-32 3.30 33-36 3.48

12. GPAs of ArkansasPersisters v. Non-Persistersat Year 2 GPA Persisters 2.58 (those students who come back for Year 2) Non-Persisters .88 (those students not returning for Year 2)

13. EPAS: What We Know • Students who participate in PLAN (and EXPLORE) and the ACT are more likely to enroll in in-state colleges as opposed to students who take only the ACT. • Since implementation of EPAS, Arkansas has experienced a greater number of students meeting the Arkansas cut-score of 19. • The EXPLORE and PLAN programs cost far less than the cost of remediating underprepared students in college. (Oklahoma study found for every $1.00 spent on EPAS, $6.00 was saved on remediation)

14. EPAS: What We Know • The 1/3 of Arkansas students who do not take a college entrance examination have no opportunity for a college education. • African-American and Hispanic students are less likely to take the ACT. • African-American and Hispanic students are more likely to wait until their senior year to test. • There are differences in college readiness preparation by high school.

15. Arkansas PLAN to ACT Growth Score Point Increases

16. Using EPAS Data

17. Distribution of Math Scores on the ACT By Percentage and Score Range ARKANSAS Graduation Class of 2007 Score Ranges 33—36 28—32 24—27 20—23 16—19 13—15 1—12

18. Another Look: Distribution of Math Scores on the ACT Based on Selected Criteria ARKANSAS Graduation Class of 2007

19. MATH Skills: Example of What It Takes to Move Students Out of Remediation Students with these skills in Algebra represent 39% of all Arkansas students Tested With ACT— Class of 2007 EXPRESSIONS, EQUATIONS, & INEQUALITIES (One of seven strands of instruction in the Math Standards) 16—19 SCORE RANGE: Associated Skills • Exhibit knowledge of basic expressions (e.g., identify an expression for a total as b + g) • Solve equations in the form x + a = b, where a and b are whole numbers or decimals • Substitute whole numbers for unknown quantities to evaluate expressions • Solve one-step equations having integer or decimal answers • Combine like terms (e.g. 2x + 5x) Adding just a few skills associated with a higher score range improve a student’s likelihood of avoiding remediation. EXPRESSIONS, EQUATIONS, & INEQUALITIES 20—23 SCORE RANGE: Associated Skills • Evaluate algebraic expressions by substituting integers for unknown quantities • Add and subtract simple algebraic expressions • Solve routine first-degree equations • Perform straightforward word-to-symbol translations • Multiply two binomials

20. Arkansas Remediation Cut Scores English Mathematics Reading

21. Distribution of Math Scores on the PLAN By Percentage and Score Range 2006—07 (Fall 2006) Score Ranges* 28—32 24—27 20—23 16—19 13—15 1—12 49% tested are already on target. Being on target for COLLEGE READINESS for another 35% is just one score range away. *PLAN score range is 1—32.

22. Distribution of Math Scores on EXPLORE By Percentage and Score Range 2006—07 (Fall 2006) Score Ranges* 24—25 20—23 16—19 13—15 1—12 A Math score of 15 means a student is on target to avoid remediation in college. 43% of students tested in 2006—07 reflected that level of achievement. Testing students with EXPLORE at the 8th grade offers the BEST opportunity to make a difference in post-secondary readiness for students. *EXPLORE score range is 1—25.

23. To determine the relevance of ACT’s College Readiness Standards to state-specific standards, periodic studies are conducted.

24. A close match exists between the College Readiness Standards and the Arkansas Frameworks.

25. EPAS Data Tools • Whole School and Cohort Data • Trend Information • Item-Response Summary Reports • Subgroup Data • Gender • Ethnicity • Course-taking patterns • College Readiness Targets • Determination of Course Selection • Development of Strategies to Avoid Remediation

26. EPAS Data Tools (continued) • Individual Student Data • Diagnostic student report • Predictor of AP Success • Career/Educational Data • Intervention Rosters • World-of-Work Map • Interest Inventory • Curriculum Review Worksheets • Alignment of Instruction • Improvement to College Readiness For example: PLAN Composite Score of 21 predicts a 50% likelihood of success on English Language and English Literature AP exams (score of 3, 4, or 5). A PLAN composite score of 23 predicts a 75% likelihood.

27. Recommendations • Mandate administration of EXPLORE and PLAN incorporating staff development. • Mandate and fully fund the administration of the ACT. • Provide additional opportunities for staff development and better utilization of the EPAS data. • Recommend partnerships between secondary schools and higher education institutions to provide lower-performing students additional interventions during high school to include individualized self-paced strategies. • Encourage coursework in teacher-preparation programs at institutions of higher education that supports understanding the use of data to inform instruction.