GLOSSARY
ACT – The ACT is a standardized assessment for
high school students frequently required for admission into college. The test has sections in English,
mathematics, reading, science reasoning, and an
optional written essay. Scored on a scale from 1 to
36, the test is intended to be an indicator of college
readiness. The subjects align with common college
introductory courses. All 11th graders in Tennessee
are required to take this exam.
ACT College Readiness Benchmarks – The ACT
College Readiness Benchmarks are the minimum
exam scores determined by ACT, Inc. to signal a
student’s preparedness to succeed in first-year,
credit-bearing courses at a postsecondary institution. An English score of 18 and a reading score of
21 indicate a student would have a high probability of success in an English composition or social
sciences course. Similarly, a math score of 22 and a
science score of 24 illustrate a similarly high potential of success in a college algebra or biology class.
Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) – Adequate Yearly
Progress is a measure established by the No Child
Left Behind Act of 2001 that holds schools accountable for the performance of their students on
standardized tests, including sub-groups such as
racial/ethnic minorities and students with disabilities. Every state administers its own examinations
in reading/language arts and mathematics, and
student performance on those examinations determines whether schools are successful at making
sufficient progress for a given year. Graduation rates
are used in calculating high school AYP, while attendance rates are used for middle and elementary
schools.
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Pathways to the Prize
Lessons from the 2012 SCORE Prize School Winners