Score reports for the Benchmark Science Assessment for the 2006-2007 school year will be reported only as raw score points. A raw score for both multiple-choice and open-response will be provided for each science strand, as reflected in the 1999 Science Frameworks.
The 2005 Science Frameworks added a strand, Nature of Science. No items had been developed for this strand for use on the 2006-2007 Benchmark Science Assessment. This fact necessitated a decision by the Arkansas Department of Education and approved by the Technical Advisory Committee to delay standards setting until 2007-2008. Furthermore, No Child Left Behind (NCLB) does not require science assessment data to be submitted until the 2007-2008 school year.
Due to these factors, no standards will be set on the 2006-2007 Benchmark Science Assessment for Grades 5 and 7. Standards will be set on the 2007-2008 Benchmark Science Assessment for Grades 5 and 7, based on the 2005 Science Frameworks to avoid complexities that would otherwise necessitate conducting two standard settings on Grades 5 and 7 Science back-to-back.
In addition, please remember that as the Biology End-of-Course Examination becomes operational in 2008, under the requirements of federal law, an Alternate Grade 10 Science Assessment, based on Extended Biology Standards, will go into operation in the 2007-2008 school year. More information will be made available at a later date.