You can’t fix a problem if you don’t know it exists.
If we want to know whether our students are learning, we have to have a consistent way to measure their knowledge in core areas. In Arkansas, that takes the form of the Arkansas Teaching, Learning and Assessment System (ATLAS) exams.
These exams, which are aligned with the Arkansas Academic Standards, are a much-needed update to the state's assessment system, replacing the outdated methods of the past. By establishing new performance levels — advanced, proficient, basic and limited understanding — the Arkansas Department of Education has set clear and transparent expectations for what students should achieve at each grade level.
Part of that process wrapped up recently with the State Board of Education’s approval of “cut scores” or passing scores for these tests.
