CLARKSDALE, Miss.–Mississippi lawmakers are considering replacing some of the subject area tests used as marks to determine whether high schoolers graduate, with ACT scores. A Senate bill that introduces that idea passed the state House of Representatives Thursday, with only six no votes.
But, there were some representatives who questioned whether the two types of tests are equivalent or are apples and oranges.
“Will this testing only be used for evaluation purposes or will it be used to determine whether a student will graduate or be promoted to another grade level?” asked Rep. Bryant Clark, of Holmes County, where the average composite ACT score is 14.7 out of 36.
“Do we know what the score would be (to graduate)?” he asked.
The answer to both questions: the test would be used to determine whether the student would graduate. The Mississippi Dept. of Education would set the target score.
The ACT is used to determine a level of college readiness and is more logic-based than knowledge-based. Mississippi has the second-lowest ACT scores in the country, with 2023’s average composite score at 17.5 for the state. The Delta has some districts with much lower composite scores. A sampling of scores for some Delta districts: 15.5 in Greenwood-LeFlore Consolidated; 14.6 in Clarksdale schools and 14.2 in Yazoo City Schools.
Another issue with the plan is that state subject area tests help determine a school’s rating. The bill will likely end up in conference to get details worked out.
