Helping Each Arkansas Student Step up to a Bright Future

Frequently Asked Questions

• What is Smart Step?
• What is the role of a Smart Step facilitator?
• What can teachers do to prepare students for the Benchmark Exams?
• What are the requirements for professional development?
• Does Smart Step place new demands on a teacher's class schedule?
• Our district is designing curricula aligned to the Frameworks; yet we are required to give a norm-referenced test for which classroom teachers are held accountable. Why?
• What can be done to help students entering the middle grades
  who are reading below grade level?
• The goal of Smart Step is "all" students will be at grade level. Does the Department really mean "all" students?
• Are special education students expected to meet standards?
• Are there accommodations for 504 students taking the Benchmark Exams?
• Are schools held accountable for students entering the district with limited English skills?
• Is the state working to align ELLA, Effective Literacy and McRat to Smart Step?
• Do the open-ended response questions on the Benchmark Exams always need to be explained and if so, why?
• How is Smart Step related to ACTAAP and school improvement?
• What are some practical ways to implement Smart Step?
• Where are practice test items found?
• We seem to spend a great deal of time testing? Can you please respond?
• What is proficient?
• Is Smart Step going to be tied closely to middle level concepts and practices?
• If a school initiated Smart Start K-6, should the faculty now be
  split into K-4 and 5-6?
• Is Smart Step going to duplicate Smart Start?
• Are there specific resources that you would recommend to a school that is planning to develop a middle school?