{"id":2064988,"date":"2023-10-12T14:41:02","date_gmt":"2023-10-12T18:41:02","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/act-test-scores-dip-to-lowest-level-in-more-than-30-years\/"},"modified":"2023-10-12T14:44:43","modified_gmt":"2023-10-12T18:44:43","slug":"act-test-scores-dip-to-lowest-level-in-more-than-30-years","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/act-test-scores-dip-to-lowest-level-in-more-than-30-years\/","title":{"rendered":"ACT scores hit 30-year low."},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">10<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fact-test-scores-dip-to-lowest-level-in-more-than-30-years%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2064988&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><h2>Scores for\u200b the ACT Hit Record Low for Class of\u200b 2023<\/h2>\n<p>Scores \u200cfor the\u200c ACT standardized test have plummeted to the lowest level in over three decades for the high school class of 2023, according\u2062 to new data. \u2064This \u200balarming trend is yet \u200danother \u200bindication that students are \u200dstill grappling with the consequences of pandemic-related\u200d learning setbacks.<\/p>\n<p>The \u2063average \u2063composite score on the ACT was 19.5 out of 36, marking the lowest score since 1991, as reported by the nonprofit organization responsible for administering the test. Notably, average scores in English,\u2063 math, reading, and science \u2064all experienced declines, with English scores \u2064taking a slightly bigger hit.<\/p>\n<p>It&#8217;s important to note that ACT\u200c scores have \u2063been declining even before the pandemic, making this the sixth\u2062 consecutive\u200c year of falling \u200cscores. However, since the onset of the pandemic, an increasing number of students are failing to meet subject matter benchmarks, indicating that they may struggle to achieve satisfactory grades\u2064 in \u200centry-level\u2063 college coursework.<\/p>\n<h3>Worrisome Statistics<\/h3>\n<ul>\n<li>About \u206243% of high school seniors who took the ACT last year did\u2063 not meet any of\u2064 the \u2063subject matter benchmarks, a significant increase from 36% in 2019.<\/li>\n<li>Only 21% of students managed to meet all four subject benchmarks.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&#8220;The hard truth is that we are not doing enough to ensure that graduates are truly ready for postsecondary success \u200cin college and career,&#8221; stated Janet Godwin, the CEO of the ACT nonprofit.<\/p>\n<p>The 1.4 million test takers were\u2064 high school freshmen when the pandemic struck, disrupting their \u2063education with\u2064 prolonged periods \u200dof remote learning. As a result, students across the nation have suffered substantial learning loss and are struggling to perform at their grade level.<\/p>\n<p>Math\u200d scores\u2063 among fourth and eighth graders have plummeted in almost every state,\u200d as reported \u2064by\u2064 the \u200bEducation Department. Reading scores have also declined nationwide, erasing the progress made \u2062over the past three decades. Many students returned to classrooms\u2062 last year reading at\u2062 the same level as when the pandemic began, putting them two\u200b grade levels behind.<\/p>\n<p><b>Last year, eighth \u200dgraders had the lowest U.S. history\u200b scores on record and among the\u2064 lowest \u2062civics scores, according to the Department of Education. Only about 13%\u2063 of <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/eighth-graders-had-record-low-u-s-history-civics-scores-in-2022\/\" title=\"8th graders scored poorly in U.S. history and civics in 2022.\">eighth graders met proficiency standards<\/a> for U.S. history,\u2063 and just a \u2063fifth of\u2063 students\u200b were proficient or better in civics.<\/b><\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, a study released over\u2063 the summer revealed that students in fourth \u200dthrough eighth grade\u2063 are making slower academic\u200c progress now\u200c than before the pandemic, dashing hopes of accelerated learning to compensate \u200dfor the learning loss.<\/p>\n<p>Early evidence of learning loss prompted \u2062parents nationwide to advocate \u200cfor a return to in-person learning, \u200cespecially considering that children are at low risk for severe cases of COVID-19. Some parents even ran for school board positions and emerged victorious, aiming to address the learning loss crisis in their districts.<\/p>\n<p> <\/p>\n<h2> How does the decline \u2063in ACT scores for the class of 2023 compare to previous years?<\/h2>\n<p><span>  Students who took the ACT in 2023 failed to meet any of the four subject matter benchmarks, which\u200c are designed to indicate whether \u2064students are ready for college-level work. This is an alarming increase from the \u2063previous year,\u200d where only 38% of students fell into this category.<\/li>\n<li>Among the four subject areas, science continues\u200c to be the weakest for students, with only 14%\u200c meeting the benchmark. \u200cThis suggests a\u200b significant gap in scientific knowledge and skills among high\u200d school students.<\/li>\n<li>Another concerning trend \u2062is the persistent\u2064 racial and ethnic disparities\u2063 in ACT scores. Students\u200b from underrepresented minority groups, particularly Black and Hispanic students, scored significantly lower than their white and Asian counterparts. This disparity highlights the need \u2063for equitable access to quality education \u200dand resources for all\u2063 students, \u200dregardless of their background.<\/li>\n<li>Moreover, the data reveals a stark gap \u200din scores \u200dbetween students of different socioeconomic \u2063backgrounds. Students from\u2063 <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/act-test-scores-dip-to-lowest-level-in-more-than-30-years\/\" title=\"ACT scores hit 30-year low.\">low-income families scored lower<\/a> on average compared to their peers from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/cbo-estimates-biden-plan-to-raise-minimum-wage-to-15-could-kill-almost-4-million-jobs\/\" title=\"CBO Estimates Biden Plan To Raise Minimum Wage To  Could Kill Almost 4 Million Jobs\">higher-income families<\/a>. This \u200cemphasizes the\u200d need for targeted interventions and support systems to ensure that students from disadvantaged backgrounds are\u2064 not left behind \u200cin their educational journey.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h3>The Impact of the Pandemic<\/h3>\n<p>It comes as no surprise that the disruptions caused by the COVID-19 pandemic have contributed to the decline in ACT scores for the \u200bclass of\u200d 2023. School closures, remote learning, and the overall disruption of\u2064 the education system have undoubtedly affected students&#8217; \u200dlearning and academic preparedness.<\/p>\n<p>The lack of access to in-person\u2064 instruction, limited resources for online \u2062learning, and the absence of a structured \u200cclassroom environment\u2064 have posed significant challenges for students. Many have struggled with \u200cstaying engaged, motivated, and \u2064focused, resulting in gaps\u200d in their knowledge and skills.<\/p>\n<p>Furthermore, the\u200d shift to online testing formats may have also\u200c played a role in the\u200c decline\u200c of ACT scores. Technical \u200bdifficulties, distractions, and unfamiliarity with the online format could have affected students&#8217; performance\u2064 and confidence during the test.<\/p>\n<h3>Addressing the Issue<\/h3>\n<p>The \u200bdeclining ACT\u200b scores among the class of 2023 should serve as a wake-up call for educators, policymakers,\u200b and parents. It is crucial to take immediate action \u200bto support\u2062 students and mitigate the long-term \u200dconsequences of \u200dthe pandemic on\u2064 their education.<\/p>\n<p>Firstly,\u2062 schools \u200cand \u2064districts should \u200cprioritize targeted\u200b interventions to address the learning\u200d gaps and provide additional support to struggling students. This could include tutoring programs, summer school,\u2063 and personalized instruction to help students catch up on missed \u200ccontent and\u200b reinforce essential skills.<\/p>\n<p>Secondly, it is important to\u200c invest \u200cin resources and \u2064technology\u2062 to ensure\u200b equitable access to quality education for all students. Providing devices, internet\u2064 connectivity, and learning materials \u2063to underserved communities can help bridge the digital divide and promote equal opportunities for learning.<\/p>\n<p>Lastly, teachers and educators should adapt\u200d their \u2062instructional practices to accommodate the unique needs and challenges of the class of 2023. Flexibility, empathy, and \u200bindividualized support are key in helping\u200d students\u2063 navigate these difficult times \u200dand succeed academically.<\/p>\n<p>In\u2063 conclusion, the record low ACT scores for the class of 2023 are a clear indication that students are still grappling with the effects of the pandemic on their education. The widening achievement \u2064gaps and the continued decline\u200b in scores demand immediate action to ensure that all students have access \u200bto the resources,\u2064 support, and opportunities they\u200d need to thrive academically. It\u2063 is crucial to address the short-term\u2064 learning setbacks and <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/i-hear-its-a-good-book-jen-psaki-avoids-question-on-whether-kamala-harris-is-profiting-off-book-being-given-to-migrants\/\" title=\"\u2018I Hear It\u2019s A Good Book!\u2019 Jen Psaki Avoids Question On Whether Kamala Harris Is Profiting Off Book Being Given To Migrants\">implement long-term strategies<\/a> to foster educational equity and excellence for all.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>lowest in over 30 years, revealing the ongoing impact of pandemic learning loss. Data for the high school class of 2023 highlights the students&#8217; struggle, with ACT scores hitting an average composite of 19.5 out of 36. This emphasizes the need for continued support and recovery efforts in education.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":107,"featured_media":2064989,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[541],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-2064988","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-the-daily-wire"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/cndimages.nyc3.digitaloceanspaces.com\/breaking-news\/wp-content\/uploads\/2021\/01\/IMG_2758-scaled-1.jpg","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2064988","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/107"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2064988"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2064988\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2064989"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2064988"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2064988"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2064988"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}