The final testing dates for the 2023–2024 school year have been set. The attached calendar includes the required and provided assessments for grades K–12. All state testing must take place during these dates.
ACT (grade 11) - There are two initial cohort test windows for the ACT at grade 11 in spring of 2024. In the fall of 2023, the DTC will complete a survey indicating the preferred administration window. The third test window is for make-up testing only.
ACT WorkKeys – This assessment provides high school students with the opportunity to earn a nationally-recognized work readiness certificate. The primary purpose of the NCRC is to provide students with a workplace certification that represents their knowledge and skills in Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents.
District Expectations:
- A public school district and open-enrollment public charter school that serves students in grades 10-12 shall administer college and career readiness assessments including a career readiness assessment that leads to a nationally recognized work readiness certificate.
- Students in public school districts and open-enrollment public charter schools in grades 10-12 will be given the opportunity to have a single administration of the WorkKeys assessment (Applied Math, Graphic Literacy, and Workplace Documents) under the state contract.
ATLAS Classroom Tool – All schools/educators have access to the ATLAS Classroom Tool. This system provides a way for educators to create assessments from a bank of items or author his/her own assessment items. All items are aligned to Arkansas state standards.
ATLAS Interim (Science) – Currently, the ATLAS Interim system provides interims for science in grade bands 3-5, 6-8, and Biology. Starting school year 2024/25, interims will also be for ELA and Math. Interims are not required.
ATLAS Summative 3-HS – Arkansas students in grades 3-10 will be administered the new ATLAS Summative for 3-10 in the content areas of ELA (English Language Arts), mathematics, and science. For this first year only, the Writing portion of the assessment will be given in a separate window prior to main testing window. All items are aligned to Arkansas state standards.
Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM), the alternate assessment, will be administered to qualifying students in each grade 3–10. Math and ELA are required on the DLM in both the fall and spring windows and together make up the summative score. DLM Science is required only during the spring window.
ELPA21 – English Learner students in grades K-12 will be administered the ELPA21 in listening, speaking, reading, and writing domains.
Alt ELPA – English Learner students with the most severe cognitive disabilities in grades K-12 will be administered the Alt ELPA in listening, speaking, reading, and writing domains.
K-2 - All districts will administer their chosen K-2 assessment through 2024. and Schools must assess all appropriate K-2 students during each of the three required windows. This is the last year for the K-2 contracts.
For additional information, please contact Alex Pritchett, Office of Student Assessment, Arkansas Department of Education at (501) 682-5161.