ACT Works With National Governors Association to Improve High School Courses

Four districts in each state are taking part in the pilot project. Activities include:

• An evaluation of the alignment between the state’s high school standards, ACT’s College Readiness Standards, and ACT’s Model Course Syllabi in English, math, and science.

• A series of curriculum workshops for teachers that will help them evaluate course quality and improve instruction. An instructional resource bank also will provide teachers with classroom activities to help improve student academic achievement.

• Quarterly statewide meetings involving representatives of K-12, higher education, and staff from the governor’s office and the legislature to discuss state policy implications and deliver a report with recommendations to the governor and legislature at the end of the grant period.

Expected outcomes of each pilot project include:

• More teachers will be able to use student test data and professional development offered by ACT and the NGA Center to evaluate their courses, ensuring appropriate rigor and consistency across the schools involved in the pilot project.

• More students will successfully be completing a college-preparatory curriculum in the participating schools.

• The state will demonstrate a commitment to expanding enrollment in college-preparatory courses.

• Sophomores enrolled in the courses in participating schools will show academic improvement, as indicated by mid-course tests.

• The proficiency gap between white and non-white students will narrow.

“Our research has shown us what students need to know to be ready for college,” said Cynthia Schmeiser, ACT’s senior vice president for research and development. “The NGA Center’s grant program will enable participating high schools in three states to put the lessons learned through research into action in their classrooms. We believe the results will show more students graduating from high school with the knowledge and skills they need in their first year of college.”

Schmeiser believes the project will prompt more states, districts, and schools to adopt policies, standards, and instructional activities that will improve the quality and rigor of college-preparatory courses in high schools.

This grant is part of the second phase of the NGA Center’s Honor States Grant Program. The second phase gives governors the opportunity to develop and implement state strategies to improve high school graduation and college readiness rates.

More information:

• National Governors Association