The document discusses using ACT score report data to guide counseling and understand student strengths and weaknesses. It explains that the reports contain over 300 data points on cognitive skills in core subjects as well as non-cognitive data on interests, activities, and career plans. Benchmark scores indicate college readiness levels. Understanding the data, standards, and factors affecting college access can improve counseling to help more students enroll.

1. Guiding With Data

2. Understanding the Score Report

3. Understanding the Score Report Over 300 points of data on each student Cognitive Data Non-Cognitive Data

4. Cognitive Data

5. More than just a score! ACT National Curriculum Survey ACT College Readiness Standards Understanding the data you receive: Cognitive Data

6. Understanding the data you receive: Cognitive Data The ACT is a curriculum-based assessment Tests students in core subject areas of English, mathematics reading and science Assesses student proficiencies in these subject areas Informs and affects more than recruitment strategies

7. ACT National Curriculum Survey Survey middle, high school and postsecondary educators Determine faculty expectations in English, math, reading and science – then compare these to actual teaching and rigor practices as they tie to college readiness Survey is basis and foundation for EPAS Tests and promotes college readiness Standards are not opinions, but facts based on survey and research Understanding the data you receive: Cognitive Data

8. ACT College Readiness Standards Narrative description of what students need to know and be able to do Reflect a common continuum of achievement Progressive model of student progress from middle to high school Reflect student strengths/weaknesses evaluate student readiness for next levels of learning Understanding the data you receive: Cognitive Data

9. Readiness Benchmark Scores Through collaborative research with postsecondary institutions nationwide, ACT has established the following College Readiness Benchmark Scores: A benchmark score is the minimum score needed on an ACT subject area test to indicate a 50% chance of obtaining a B or higher or about a 75% chance of obtaining a C or higher in the corresponding credit-bearing college courses. College Readiness Benchmark Score English English Composition 18 Math Algebra 22 Reading Social Sciences 21 Science Biology 24 ACT Subject Area Test College Course(s)

10. Understanding the data you receive: Cognitive Data

11. Understanding the data you receive: Cognitive Data

12. Understanding the data you receive: Cognitive Data

13. Understanding the data you receive: Cognitive Data

14. Understanding the data you receive: Cognitive Data

15. Without improving the quality and content of the core, it appears that most students need to take additional higher-level courses to learn what they should have learned from a rigorous core curriculum, with no guarantee even then that they will be prepared for college-level work. ACT research suggests that students today do not have a reasonable chance of becoming ready for college unless they take additional higher-level courses beyond the minimum core, and even then they are not always likely to be ready for college. This finding is in part a reflection on the quality and intensity—the rigor —of the high school curriculum. ACT Minimum Core English: 4 years Social Studies: At least 3 years Mathematics: At least 3 years Natural Sciences: At least 3 years Understanding the data you receive: Cognitive Data

16. Understanding the data you receive: Cognitive Data

17. Understanding the data you receive: Cognitive Data

18. Non-Cognitive

19. Non-Cognitive: Score Report Information Major/degree interests Type of institution/interests Extracurricular activities In HS and for postsecondary School choice/size Needs (academic and otherwise)

20. World of Work Map

21. World of Work Map Promotes effective and data-based career counseling Helps students and counselors more specifically discuss aspirations and interests based on a proven measurement Focuses discussion on student interests, and if these interests align with selected major More impactful counseling for ‘undecided’ students

22. World of Work Map

23. Importance of Releasing Names to Colleges/Universities

24. Enrollment Rates by Number of Purchases

25. Enrollment Rates by Number of Purchases, African Americans

26. Enrollment Rates by Number of Purchases, Hispanics

27. Late Testing

28. Consequences of Late-Testing Late-testing affects educational opportunities Time of first-testing affects likelihood of student names being purchased Students whose names are purchased are more likely to enroll in college Many students from target populations don’t test first time until senior year

29. 1-12 37% 78% 13-15 34% 71% 16-19 15% 45% 20-23 7% 28% 24-27 4% 25% 28-32 3% 24% 33-36 3% 22% Tot 10% 41% Senior Names Much Less Likely to be Purchased Jr Not Purch Sr Not Purch ACT Composite

30. 1-12 2,168 6,305 13-15 13,508 36,894 16-19 18,912 54,227 20-23 10,946 27,504 24-27 5,049 12,488 28-32 2,054 4,242 33-36 246 332 Tot 52,883 141,952 Senior Names Much Less Likely to be Purchased (by the Numbers) Jr Not Purch Sr Not Purch ACT Composite 18,295 44,566

31. Senior Names Also Much Less Likely to be Purchased Frequently More senior-testers not purchased by any college More senior-testers purchased by fewer colleges Higher frequencies of purchase mean more exposure, more opportunities

32. Most Important Factors for Effective Counseling

33. More in-depth knowledge of skills – not just scores College Readiness Standards/Benchmarks Steer communication, intervention, students services based on cognitive understanding Effective personalized communication/counseling using non-cognitive data Connect institutional services with students interests and needs Career Counseling Most Important Factors for Effective Counseling

34. Promoting early testing (Junior year) increases access for students and institutions to vital information/data Students and Counselors need to understand importance of releasing names Making sure students take the right courses!!! Most Important Factors for Effective Counseling