New in the 2008 Arkansas School Performance Report

The SAT-10 Norm Referenced Test was combined with state-mandated criterion-referenced testing to form the Augmented Benchmark Examinations for the 2007-08 school year. The SAT-10 compares Arkansas' student performance with the performance of a sample of students from across the country. The Iowa Test of Basic Skills (ITBS) was used as the norm referenced test in the previous Performance Report. ITBS scores for years 2005-06, and 2006-07 are included in the 2008 Performance Report.

Benchmark scores have been added this year for End-of-Course Biology and Science in grades 5 and 7.

Arkansas state average scores on the National Assessment for Educational Progress (NAEP) in fourth and eighth grade literacy and mathematics were added.

District compliance with the requirement to provide textbooks for all pupils was new this year.

The standard four-year adjusted cohort high school graduation rate for Arkansas recommended by the National Governor's Association was used in the State section of the Performance Report.

The gain index was added to the Performance Report at the top of each school page inside the image of a yellow pencil. Arkansas Code Annotated §6-15-2102, requires that each school be identified as being in one of five category levels based on the annual improvement gains in student scores. Student growth is based upon changes in student performance levels across two adjacent years. For each school, the annual improvement gain index is the average of all value-added points across all students for literacy and math in grades 3 - 8 within the school.