Reply to Class of 2022 Had Lowest ACT Scores in Over 30 Years

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[quote=Anonymous][quote=Anonymous]My hypothesis bout the scores is that higher scores were due to selection bias. One of the things that has been happening more in recent years is that the ACT and PSAT are being administered in public schools during the school day. This is part of a program of college and career readiness and a program of test company enrichment. However, it also means that a greater proportion of students who do not see themselves as college-bound are taking the tests. In an era where students are having trouble self-regulating enough to behave respectfully during a 90-minute class block, standardized testing feels boring and pointless. Teacher social media (Reddit, Tik Tok) is full of nightmare stories of teachers having to cancel scores because teens can’t adhere to testing protocol. Teachers are also sharing that kids are laughing about their low scores that are barely more points than you get for writing your name. It’s a game for them to fill in random bubbles quickly and then put their heads down. Previously, such low scores were not averaged into the mix because the students never would have opted in to taking the test in the first place.[/quote]
I used to be a teacher. My state decided to make the ACT mandatory for ALL students years ago. People often ask me when & why I decided to leave teaching. I vividly remember exactly when I made the decision- proctoring the ACT test. For ALL students. Whether it was an appropriate test for each student or not, whether they were college bound or not.

It took me away from my students and valuable teaching time to make all HS juniors take the ACT (state law) whether it was appropriate or not.

As I walked around, a particular student stared at me. Looking up from the test with tears in his eyes. Confused. Defeated.

As I looked into his eyes all of my hard work pouring into this child was gone. He wasn't going to NASA. He had no interest into going to college - 4 or 2 year. He knew hard work and exactly where he was going- somewhere he thrived: an apprenticeship.

My goal for this child was simple- pass the class (most likely by pure grit) and walk away without feeling like he was the stupidest kid alive. And I worked hard on this relationship piece. And as he looked up at me, I knew all this was gone.

I felt like a failure for making him take this test that wouldn't improve anything for him. He was going to get a score that he would have stamped on his 'intelligence' the rest of his life. That number that tailed him that said "yup! You are dumb," not taking into account his actual intelligence. Not taking into account that welding was his passion, and his skill, especially at 16, was well above par.

Looking back, I don't blame myself or other teachers. I don't blame our administration. I still don't. Nor do I care to blame. I just want a change in how we approach education and how we value equality. [/quote]

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