Students grades 3-5 and 7-10 will take the ACT Aspire tests at Lead Hill School District Tuesday, April 19-Thursday, April 21. Grade 6 will take the tests the week following: April 25-27.
*The majority of the class of grade 6 will be participating in a pee-wee tournament the previous week, thus the alternative date.*
If your child is a virtual/digital student, please contact Francie Johnson, Digital Learning Director, for details about scheduling.
What is the purpose of the ACT Aspire tests?
While state tests are not the only measurement used to determine how your child is doing, it does enable educators to compare how students are progressing over time. This helps informs teachers on how to develop plans regarding student growth and learning loss, and the impact COVID has had on student learning.
The Arkansas Educational Support and Accountability System (AESAS) Act 930 § 2 of 2017, is the state law that requires the state of Arkansas to test public school students.
What Aspire tests will my child take?
ACT Aspire
Grades 3-10 – all students
English, Math, Reading, Science, Writing
The ACT Aspire is an online criterion-referenced test given to measure a student’s knowledge of standard specific skills. The total end-of-year testing time for ACT Aspire summative is 4 1/2 to 5 hours. These tests are administered over a five-week testing window. Parents will receive score reports that will provide information regarding each student’s individual progress.
How Parents Can Help
When a test is being given, you can help by making sure your student:
- gets plenty of sleep the night before the test;
- has breakfast on the morning of the test;
- goes to school on time on the day of a test;
- does not have any out-of-school appointments on the day of a test;
- knows you think he/she will do well on the tests; and
- knows you understand the test is important.
To help your student learn at home:
- encourage your student to read and read to your student;
- be interested in your student’s daily school work;
- talk with and listen to your student daily;
- go to parent-teacher conferences and stay in regular contact with your student’s teacher(s);
- get to know your student’s teacher;
- remind your student that it is ok to ask questions in class; and
- check frequently to ensure that your student is completing all assigned work in a timely manner.
Research shows that the earlier we measure progress toward meeting educational standards, the more we can strengthen a student’s chances to stay on target enabling him/her to succeed and be college and career ready upon graduating high school. These assessments ensure that all students in Arkansas public schools have an equal opportunity to demonstrate grade-level and subject area academic proficiency through the application of knowledge and skills in the core academic subjects consistent with state academic standards, and performance standards.