Online ‘report card' monitors state education
Teachers, parents and other community members can now monitor the progress of statewide education through the “Arizona Ready Education Report Card” recently launched by Gov. Jan Brewer's office.
By using this new tool, those interested can visit www.arizonaready.com/content/index.html and take a look at where the state is below, meeting or exceeding its educational goals.
“This online Education Report Card puts right at parents' fingertips some of the most critical information about the quality of our schools and the achievement of our students,” said Brewer.
“With this novel, user-friendly tool, parents and educators alike will be empowered to measure Arizona's education successes, monitor our shortcomings and, ultimately, help ensure our children are college and career-ready after graduation.”
The online charts show the state's progress in pre-kindergarten, elementary, junior high, high school, post-secondary and workforce areas.
“A review of the data indicates, while there remains much work to be done, Arizona has made improvements in vital education areas,” reported state officials.
For example, data shows that Arizona eighth-grade students showed improvement on the National Assessment of Educational Programs in 2011 compared with previous years. It also shows that the amount of third-grade students meeting the state reading standards has also gradually increased.
Data can be pinpointed by the user to specific counties, years, grade levels and subject areas.
“As someone deeply involved in education reform, I am very pleased to have this tool available,” said Craig Barrett, chairman of the Arizona Ready Education Council. “The ability to drill down into our goals and access detailed information will enable the council to make more thoughtful and deliberate recommendations that can drive meaningful change. This will prove invaluable to education in the state of Arizona.”
Arizona Ready is an education reform plan developed by Brewer, the Arizona Department of Education and multiple education stakeholders in 2010 and implemented in 2011. Goals set through the plan required students, teachers and administrators to be held to a higher level of expectation. Upcoming reforms include the implementation of Arizona's Common Core Standards as well as a focus on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Math) education.
“An educated workforce is crucial to the future economic success of Arizona,” said Brewer. “This Arizona Ready Education Report Card — in addition to our other ongoing efforts to improve Arizona schools — will help align our education system with the needs of employers. I am proud of the progress we have made, and excited to see how these reforms will shape our educational and economic future.”
Sarah Womer can be reached at swomer@yumasun.com or 539-6858. Find her on Facebook at Facebook.com/YSSarahWomer or on Twitter at @YSSarahWomer.
