Arkansas education officials select Cambium Assessment for new K-10 state assessment system

A significant shift in Arkansas's education assessment landscape was announced during a recent Education Committee meeting, as state officials revealed plans to replace the ACT Aspire assessment with a new vendor, Cambium Assessment Incorporated. This change comes in response to ACT's decision to cease further development of the ACT Aspire, which will remain in use until spring 2023.

Tiffany Bridal, assistant commissioner of learning services at the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE), outlined the procurement process that led to this decision. The new assessment, set to be implemented by spring 2024, aims to align closely with Arkansas State Standards and will include interim assessments to help educators track student progress throughout the year.

Bridal emphasized the importance of stakeholder feedback in shaping the new assessment, noting that input was gathered from educators, parents, and educational leaders across the state. This collaborative approach aims to ensure that the new system not only meets state requirements but also prepares students for college and career readiness.

The new assessment will feature multiple measures of student achievement, including national comparisons through Lexile and Quantile scores, which will provide a broader context for evaluating student performance. This is a departure from the previous system, which lacked such comprehensive metrics.

Committee members expressed concerns about maintaining the rigor of the assessment and ensuring it accommodates diverse learners, including English learners and students with special needs. Bridal assured them that the new vendor has a robust plan for accommodations and that Arkansas educators will be involved in reviewing assessment items to ensure they are ideologically neutral and free from bias.

As Arkansas transitions to this new assessment system, the focus remains on maintaining a stable accountability framework while enhancing the educational experience for students across the state. The anticipated rollout in 2024 marks a pivotal moment for Arkansas education, promising a more tailored and effective approach to student assessment.