PARCA's Approach to ARMT Data

October 26, 2012 

PARCA's Approach to the Analysis for ARMT Data

Jim Williams, Public Affairs Research Council fo Alabama 

Informing the people of Alabama the performance of the public schools on Alabama based on the Alabama Reading and Math Test (ARMT). 

Based on the understanding that all students can achieve at a high level, the goal of the PARCA is to engage external and internal stakeholders to improve student performance. Setting expectations high encourages students and schools to improve goals and achieve high. 

The way they approach the performance of both students and schools is through simple comparisons. Comparisons help determine a base line for areas of success and improvement. Using the data through testing and comparisons they are able to raise questions and determine areas that need focus; thus setting goals for improvement. 

Test results are analysis through performance and subgroups.  Each students performance is assign a 1-4 ranking, 3&4 (advanced, proficient)  being passing and 1&2 (basic, below basic) being unsatisfactory. Within these performance rankings student's data is broken into subgroups: white, black, poverty, non-poverty. The methodology of No Child Left Behind allows for more information provided about each group. Each subgroup is compared against the statewide benchmark. The goal is to close these gaps. 

"Demographics do not determine destiny: evidence shows that all students, subgroups, and schools with all types of students, can score at the highest level on the ARMT."

PARCA, unlike AYP, believe that performace should not be simple pass/fail but instead more detailed. Through a color coding system the determine achievement of the ARMT Test Results as seen below. 

Through more detailed analysis of data PARCA hopes to set higher goals and see higher achievement amongst students and schools. 

For more information visit parka.samford.edu