Arkansas Receives Varied Rankings in Quality Counts

posted by: Pamela | January 14, 2011, 12:19 AM

Education Week has ranked Arkansas sixth in the nation in education policies, environment and performance, according to state education officials. Arkansas received a grade of 81.4% in the annual “Quality Counts” report, a national report card that tracks policy and performance in six broad categories in all 50 states and Washington D.C.

Arkansas, received an A grade in one particular category, leading the nation in transitions and alignments, which grades states’ efforts to coordinate connections between public school grades and other segments of the educational pipeline.

The state ranked among the top 10 states in three of the six categories; the states’ efforts to improve the teaching profession, their standards, assessments and accountability systems, and the connections made by the states between kindergarten through 12^th grade systems and early learning, higher education, and the workforce.

“The state’s ability to connect quality data about education achievement and outcomes from early childhood to college and beyond, Arkansas truly is building a system that promotes lifelong learning,” said state Education Commissioner Tom Kimbrell.

Arkansas received a C in school finance, 27^th in the nation; a C minus in chance for success, 45^th in the nation; and a D in residents’ chances for success, 27^th nationwide.

The state’s ranking was 10^th for the past two years.

What do you think of the results?
Comment below.

email to friend