From Forbes: As online college and other alternative higher ed options have grown in popularity, standardized testing has become less important at the college level, with many colleges going test-optional. But high school students across the U.S. still take the SAT and ACT to prep for college admissions.
At the K-12 level, standardized testing remains a vital metric for measuring students’ comprehension and competency in core subject areas like math, reading, writing and science. Standardized test scores provide primary and secondary school teachers and administrators with data-driven insights that inform curriculum development and shape educational policies and practices. These scores can also impact a school’s funding and resource allocation.
In this article, we rank the states with the highest standardized test scores and discuss the evolving role of standardized testing, including K-12 assessments and college entrance exams.
What’s behind the ACT’s for-profit pivot?
From Inside Higher Ed: ACT, the organization which administers its namesake exam, was purchased by the private equity firm Nexus Capital Management this month in a major shake-up for the standardized testing industry.
The acquisition means the nonprofit organization will transition to a for-profit company, raising concerns about transparency and accountability. It also signals significant changes for assessment organizations after years of upheaval in college admissions.
Janet Godwin, ACT’s CEO since 2020, will stay on to steward the organization through its transition. She told Inside Higher Ed that the partnership opens new opportunities outside of college admissions, particularly in credential programs and K-12 curriculum development. But the spirit of the test itself, she said, would remain unchanged—as will the cost of taking it.
Richard Cordray has led the Office of Federal Student Aid since May 2021. His three-year appointment is up this week
Richard Cordray takes the fall for FAFSA fiasco
From Inside Higher Ed: Richard Cordray, the chief operating officer of the Office of Federal Student Aid and top student loan official in the Biden administration, is stepping down.
Cordray has faced mounting criticism from Congressional Republicans and the higher education community over his agency’s rollout of the new Free Application for Federal Student Aid (FASFA), which has been beset by a raft of delays and technical errors that have frustrated college financial aid offices and hampered college access for underserved students.
“Mr. Cordray, don’t let the door hit you on the way out,” Representative Virginia Foxx, the North Carolina Republican who chairs the House Education and Workforce Committee, said in a statement.
Report: FAFSA snafu hits first-generation students hardest
From Study.com: Hundreds of thousands of students typically fill out the FAFSA (Free Application for Federal Student Aid) each year in order to qualify for the federal loans and grants they need to attend college. However, this year there has been a notable decline in submissions. Technical issues with the new application process have thrown many prospective students into uncertainty.
Insights from a recent Study.com survey of 600 first-generation college students who tried to submit their FAFSA forms this year show that FAFSA complications have not only delayed their college decisions but, in some cases, have derailed their educational plans altogether.
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