{"id":83,"date":"2026-05-14T18:09:42","date_gmt":"2026-05-14T18:09:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/movingtoalaskausa.com\/?p=83"},"modified":"2026-05-14T18:09:42","modified_gmt":"2026-05-14T18:09:42","slug":"socioeconomic-status-a-key-factor-in-understanding-alaska-test-data-lawmakers-hear","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/movingtoalaskausa.com\/?p=83","title":{"rendered":"Socioeconomic status a key factor in understanding Alaska test data, lawmakers hear"},"content":{"rendered":"
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A professor at Furman University told the Alaska Legislature Task Force on Education Funding Wednesday afternoon that standardized test results might not be the most appropriate set of data on which to base education policy decisions.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more A huge data center could rise on Alaska\u2019s North Slope<\/a><\/p>\n

During a routine presentation on the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the Nation\u2019s Report Card, Paul Thomas backed a principle that legislators should not make decisions about students and schools based on a single standardized test.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThe key to understanding test data in Alaska is the information on poverty,\u201d Thomas said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Alaska\u2019s <\/span>NAEP scores<\/span> of fourth- and eighth- grade Alaskans ranked lower than the national public in mathematics and reading in 2024. According to the Nation\u2019s Report Card, approximately 69% of students performing below the 25th percentile are economically disadvantaged while economically disadvantaged students make up 48% of Alaskan students.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cEducation policy and socioeconomic policy are really strongly connected,\u201d Thomas said. \u201cTest scores are a <\/span>reflection<\/span> of the socioeconomic status of the students.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

State education officials led legislators through a practice test of the Alaska System of Academic Readiness, commonly referred to as the AK STAR. Each fall, winter, and spring, Alaskan students in grades 3-9 take the MAP Growth assessment and each spring, Alaskan students take the AK STAR.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Alaska lawmakers raise concerns with Dunleavy\u2019s attorney general pick ahead of confirmation vote<\/a><\/p>\n

Kelly Melin, who works for the Department of Education and Early Development\u2019s Assessments and Standards Administration, said the state\u2019s standardized tests are designed to satisfy federal requirements set forth in the Every Student Succeeds Act.<\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve taken the power of an interim assessment and the need for a summative assessment as was dictated through ESSA and connected those to come up with what we have as AK STAR,\u201d Melin said.<\/span><\/p>\n

Kelly Manning, the department\u2019s Director of Innovation and Education Excellence, said that the purpose of assessments is to measure the state\u2019s ability to close the achievement gap and measure students\u2019 ability to read at grade level by the third grade.<\/span><\/p>\n

, about 33% of students tested at or above grade level expectations in language arts and 32% in math in 2025. Students in ninth grade demonstrated the greatest need for support in language arts and math.<\/span><\/p>\n

The testing window for Alaska students closes on May 1. AK STAR results will be available to school districts in July and statewide in the fall.<\/span><\/p>\n

Read more Former North Pole legislator, owner of Santa-themed tourist spot named to Alaska Judicial Council<\/a><\/p>\n

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