Students to take new tests

Stephens Media

The state Department of Education will administer college and career readiness assessments to all middle and high school students statewide in grades 8, 9, 10 and 11 beginning next spring.

This will be the first time the DOE will be able to comprehensively collect and examine college and career readiness data in reading, mathematics, science and English, officials said Wednesday.

“By 2018, Hawaii will rank 10th in the nation in jobs requiring post-secondary degrees,” Superintendent Kathryn Matayoshi said. “We are setting a high bar for achievement and delivering optimal tools and resources
to accelerate our students’ trajectory toward college and career readiness. All high school graduates must complete a rigorous course of study and be prepared to successfully pursue their dreams, aspirations and goals.”

More than 50,000 students will take the ACT PLAN test in grades 8 and 9, the EXPLORE exam in grade 10, and The ACT assessment in grade 11. The new ACT College and Career Readiness System is designed to help students plan for future education opportunities and explore careers based on their skills, interests and ambitions.

The DOE Systems Accountability Office is leading the implementation of the ACT College and Career Readiness System. ACT, Inc. was recently awarded a contract totaling approximately $882,000 for the system’s assessment package, programs, and services for this school year.