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Watertown schools describe switch to enhanced ACT, outline preparations for all juniors
Summary
District testing staff told the board that the state’s move to the enhanced ACT makes the exam shorter and online, that it will appear on student transcripts as a state test, and that district officials are using state tools and local planning to prepare all juniors; the district expects an initial small statewide dip in scores during alignment and plans follow‑up once cut scores are set.
District staff briefed the Watertown School District 14‑4 board on April 13 about the statewide transition from the Smarter Balanced assessment to the enhanced ACT as the junior‑year universal assessment.
Mrs. McLimans, the district’s testing lead, told trustees that the enhanced ACT reduces the number of items and testing minutes (for example, English dropped from 75 to 50 items and math from 60 to 45 on presented state materials) and that the exam will be delivered online. She said the state is treating the enhanced ACT as a statewide assessment that will appear on students’ transcripts, although juniors who take a Saturday national ACT may opt out of the transcript posting for that administration. Mrs. McLimans added districts should expect a 1–3% drop in reported scores during the first year of the transition as baseline comparisons are established.
The district described preparation steps it has taken: offering pre‑ACT and 8/9 ACT practice for younger cohorts, conducting staff training and data digs so teachers can run item analysis, integrating ACT‑style practice into coursework, and piloting vendor resources such as Methodize to give individualized practice and pacing tools. The district reported high participation: administrators said more than 90% of juniors completed the state window with low absenteeism, and the school provided logistical supports during testing (snacks, breaks, makeup days) to reduce fatigue and anxiety.
Board members asked about cut scores and use of results. Mrs. McLimans said the state will convene a work group in June to set cut scores and that the district expects to receive its testing data in May. She emphasized the district will continue to use item‑level reports to guide instruction and to build longitudinal data across pre‑ACT, pre‑ACT 8/9 and the enhanced ACT.
Next steps include reviewing the district’s score reports when available, integrating Methodize for student practice, and aligning in‑service time for teachers to use ACT data in planning.
