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Michigan's ACT Scores Stay Steady
from MIRS 8-21-02
Michigan's average score on the national ACT test in 2002 held
steady for a fourth straight year at 21.3, a half point over
the national average of 20.8 for the high school graduating
class of 2002.
Today's information caused state officials to call for a
“gentle push” on the part of schools, communities and families
to improve the state's ACT scores. While state Superintendent
Tom WATKINS stressed that “students are more than a single
test on a single day,” Watkins said he believes that the new
accreditation system and requirements from the new federal “No
Child Left Behind” law will help schools improve education.
“We want to trumpet the success of our schools, but at the
same time rally to the challenge of doing more to improve our
ACT assessment scores,” Watkins said. “Our expectations are
very high.”
The state's new accreditation system, titled Education YES!,
will grade Michigan schools on several factors including the
level of progress made on the state's Michigan Education
Assessment Program (MEAP) test. The Department of Education
also is working to align these requirements with the new
federal No Child Left Behind Act and was one of the first
states to receive $11.5 million for the Act's Reading First
initiative.
The State Board of Education has completed initial reports
from five task forces with recommendations that, when enacted,
will improve academic achievement in all schools, particularly
those that chronically under-perform.
“The status quo is good, but we can be even better,” said
Kathleen STRAUS, state Board of Education president.
“Education is far too important to be the sole responsibility
of educators. It is incumbent upon all of us to play an active
role in improving our schools, through involvement, tutoring
and mentoring.”
State Puts Top
Lesson Plans On Web
MIRS, August 21, 2002
The Michigan Department of Treasury announced today it is
putting top curriculum and lesson plans for classroom teachers
grades K-11 on a web site called Sample Curriculum and Plans
for Education (SCoPE).
In the making for nearly a year, SCoPE will allow educators to
download plans for math, science, language arts and social
studies for each grade level. The site also offers lesson
plans with classroom activities suggested methods of
assessment and homework assignments.
“The web site is especially helpful for new teachers just
getting started, substitute teachers and elementary teachers
who provide day-long instruction on a variety of subjects,”
said Michael BOULUS, deputy director of the Department of
Treasury.
The web site is located at
www.michigan.gov/scope.
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