Arkansas Department of Education selects Cambium Assessment for new state assessment system

In a pivotal meeting of the Arkansas Senate Education Committee, officials from the Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) outlined a significant shift in the state's education assessment system. The discussion centered on the transition from the ACT Aspire assessment, which will be phased out by spring 2023, to a new vendor that will develop a tailored Arkansas state assessment for grades 3 through 10.

Tiffany Bridal, assistant commissioner of learning services, and Hope Orsham, ESSER program director, presented the rationale behind this change. They explained that the decision to seek a new vendor was prompted by ACT's announcement that no further development would occur on the ACT Aspire product. This led DESE to initiate a procurement process to find a partner capable of creating an assessment aligned with Arkansas state standards.

The committee learned that DESE had engaged in extensive stakeholder outreach, gathering feedback from educators, parents, and educational leaders across the state. This input was crucial in shaping the request for proposals (RFP) that outlined the requirements for the new assessment system. The selected vendor, Cambium Assessment Incorporated, will not only develop the assessment but also ensure it includes interim and classroom assessments, providing educators with tools to monitor student progress throughout the year.

A key focus of the new assessment will be to maintain college and career readiness measures, ensuring that high school students are adequately prepared for their future endeavors. The assessment will also incorporate national comparisons of achievement, allowing Arkansas to benchmark its students' performance against peers in other states.

Committee members expressed concerns about the rigor of the new assessment compared to the ACT Aspire. Officials reassured them that the new system would be designed to meet Arkansas's specific academic standards, providing a more tailored and relevant evaluation of student learning. They emphasized the importance of maintaining a stable accountability system during this transition, with plans for the first administration of the new assessment set for spring 2024.

As the meeting concluded, the committee recognized the importance of this transition in shaping the future of education in Arkansas. With the new assessment system on the horizon, educators and students alike are poised for a new chapter that promises to align more closely with state educational goals and standards.