ACT and America’s Choice Introduce School District Superintendents to Rigor & Readiness Initiative at Washington, DC Symposium

ACT and America’s Choice introduced school district superintendents nationwide to the groundbreaking Rigor & Readiness initiative during a symposium held in August in Washington, DC.

The two organizations have created a college and career readiness solution from the sixth through the twelfth grades that districts can adopt or adapt as their own. The system is based on college and career readiness standards and includes an aligned system of instruction in grades six–twelve; formative and summative assessments to evaluate student progress; intervention (safety net) programs; professional development for teachers and administrators; and data systems that monitor student progress and help identify students who are falling behind.

“It is a national economic imperative that we better prepare students for college and careers and decrease their need for remedial services in college,” said Cynthia B. Schmeiser, president and chief operating officer, ACT Education Division. “Our research says this is important and this can be done. Rigor & Readiness exemplifies the commitment of ACT and America’s Choice to ensuring all students graduate from high school with the skills they need to be successful, productive members of society.”

Major goals of Rigor & Readiness include ensuring that all students are college and career ready in achievement, psychosocial behavior, and career and educational planning; creating and advancing school change through an aligned, coherent system of high standards, instruction, assessment, safety nets, and professional development; and building and supporting high-achieving, self-sustaining schools within scalable, replicable systems.

“Your program adds to the movement now sweeping the country to help all students get college and career ready,” said U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan in his discussion of Rigor & Readiness.

Duncan addressed attendees at the Superintendents’ Symposium Series co-sponsored by ACT and America’s Choice to share practical solutions for increasing students’ college and career readiness with district superintendents from across the United States. He discussed the Department of Education’s $650 million Investing in Innovation (i3) Fund and redefined the department’s expectations for funding.

“I want the department to become an engine of innovation, not a compliance monitor,” said Secretary Duncan.

“We are looking to youth districts and nonprofits to unleash your creativity and build the next generation of education reform.”

Jon Erickson, ACT senior vice president of educational services, added, “ACT and America’s Choice are committed to ensuring that all students are college and career ready without the need for remediation. Rigor & Readiness will give our school and district partners the tools to make this possible.”

U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan spoke at the symposium in Washington, DC.

Print this article

<< Previous article  |  Current Issue Home  |  Top of Page  |  Next article >>