LITTLE ROCK The Arkansas Department of Education released abbreviated versions of the 2020 School Report Cards for schools, districts, and the state. During the 2019-2020 school year, events related to COVID-19 caused a substantial disruption to onsite instruction, assessment, accountability, and reporting. Because of these events, some data typically included in accountability and reporting are not available; however, the data that is available can be used alongside other measurements to determine student and school success.
“There is no doubt that COVID has had a significant impact on student learning,” ADE Secretary Johnny Key said. “While we don’t have all the data we would like to have to measure student and school success for the 2019-2020 school year, the 2020 School Report Cards still provide valuable information that can be used to identify best practices and areas that need improvement. I encourage parents and educators to review the data and use it to make infor
The
state Education Department has announced the release of an abbreviated
school report card for the 2019-20 school year on account of the school disruptions caused by COVID-19.
In my view, much could be edited from state report cards permanently, beginning with the misleading one-letter grade for schools that depends so much on standardized tests that measure income and family circumstances more than they measure school or student quality. The grade isn’t being included this year because testing was waived in the last school year.
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Education Secretary Johnny Key insists this report still provides “valuable information that can be used to identify best practices and areas that need improvement.” Here are some tips for schools: Enroll as many middle-class kids as possible and try to hold down the number of impoverished, special needs and non-English-speaking students.