Reading Scores Down - Again
The ACT has announced that the 2005 reading scores have hit a 10 year low. Only 51% of the potential college freshman will be able to read a social sciences textbook.
This really blows me away. The ACT announced that half of the kids that took the ACTs won't be able to understand some of the textbooks in college. That could be just a tiny problem, don't you think?
How much time are we spending in schools making everyone accountable? Testing kids to the point of overkill. Studying statistics. Sitting in in-services developing new strategies and the scores are going down?
Long Ago....
I remember my high school days. 40-45 students packed into a classroom. You could hear a pin drop as Sister taught the lesson. If Father entered the room for a visit, we all stood immediately out of respect. Every class had at least 3 Johns and 5 Marys and most kids were from families of 7-12 people. There was a "Books To Read for College" posted in the back of the English room. We were expected to read some of these classics on our own time. Everyone did their homework. All but a few went on to higher education. And, I don't remember anyone saying they had trouble reading the college textbooks.
Lowest Scores In A Decade!
From 1994 to 1999, the number of ACT reading scores of 21 or higher were climbing. After 1999 the scores began consistently declining. What happened in 1999 to account for the decline?
Why is "21" The Magic Number?
The ACT has been keeping statistics and found that if students have an ACT reading score of 21, they have no problems with college level textbooks. Students below that score do.
How Many Won't Make It?
In 2005, 1.2 million students took the ACT college entrance exam. So, that means 600,000 students will not be able to understand the social sciences textbook in the freshman year of college? These are the students that place in the top 50-60% of the class, right? Will the students that fall below the ACT takers be ready to enter the world of work? What is their reading level?
"The Writing Is on the Wall, but Who Can Read It?"
This is a quote from the Spring 2006 Activity report by ACT. The ACT has made some recommendations for schools. Learn what needs to be done because ACT Scores Are Falling.
Are we putting too much emphasis on ACT tests? Learn more about tests by reading Test Time for High Schools.
Read previous articles on Educational Issues.
Copyright article 2006 Barbara Pytel. All Rights Reserved.
