| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE: September 18, 2007
REL SOUTHWEST RELEASES RESEARCH EXAMINING ALIGNMENT BETWEEN ARKANSAS SCIENCE STANDARDS AND THE 2009 NAEP
SAN ANTONIO – The Regional Educational Laboratory – Southwest (REL Southwest), run by Edvance Research (formerly run by SEDL), has released research findings which address the question, “To what extent do current Arkansas state science standards cover the content on which NAEP 2009 assessments will be based?” The research report, Aligning Science Standards: Arkansas and the 2009 National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), was developed to give education professionals and policymakers a head-start in determining where they might begin to make changes in their assessment standards and specifications to develop an assessment system more closely aligned to that used for the NAEP.
Dr. Gayle Potter, Associate Director for Curriculum, Assessment and Research at the Arkansas Department of Education stated:“The committee that revised the Arkansas curriculum frameworks for science used the National Assessment of Educational Progress standards as a guidepost when developing the standards for what is to be taught in Arkansas’ science classes. The intent never was to align directly with NAEP’s standards, however, because those are assessment frameworks as opposed to curriculum frameworks. Both sets of standards, however, demand a rigorous course of science study for our students. Raising the level of science instruction for our students, of course, was and is our ultimate goal.” Content alignment was reviewed at grades 4, 8 and 12 in comparison to appropriate grade levels in the Arkansas Science Curriculum Frameworks. Key findings from the research include:
- NAEP grade 4 standards compared with the Arkansas Science Curriculum Framework, primarily at grade 5 reflect content statements as follows: 12% Fully Addressed, 76% Partially Addressed and 12% Not Addressed.
- NAEP grade 8 standards compared with the Arkansas Science Curriculum Framework, primarily at grade 7, reflect content statements as follows: 19% Fully Addressed, 74% Partially addressed and 7% Not Addressed.
- NAEP grade 12 standards were compared with the Arkansas Biology Curriculum Framework for grade 12 as biology is the only subject area in which Arkansas tests its high school students on a statewide basis; therefore, the comparison reflects content statements as follows: 2% Fully Addressed, 24% Partially Addressed and 73% Not Addressed.
REL Southwest, at Edvance Research, is one of ten educational laboratories in the Regional Educational Laboratory Network (REL Network). REL Southwest serves the states of Arkansas, Louisiana, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas and works for the benefit of over 6.5 million students, over 400,000 teachers in approximately 14,000 schools in grades pre-kindergarten through college in this five-state region. The REL Network encompasses ten geographical regions that span the nation with its primary mission being to serve the educational needs of designated regions. The REL Network uses applied research, development, dissemination, and training and technical assistance to bring the latest and best research and proven practices into school improvement efforts. Educators in the southwest region may obtain technical assistance through the REL Reference Desk by calling 1-877-EDVANCE (1-877-338-2623) or e-mailing RELinfo@edvanceresearch.com. Founded in 2005, Edvance Research, Inc. is a research enterprise with a mission to be a leader in the advancement of rigorous research, specializing in the education arena. The company is headquartered in San Antonio, Texas. | 
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