Despite excessive snow days,officials with Jefferson County Public Schools have recommended the statewide ACT test for high school juniors not be rescheduled.The decision stems from a survey issued by the Kentucky Department of Education to gauge the effect the missed school days have had on student’s preparation.March 4 is the current test date and a make-up date is set for March 18. Rescheduling options presented to district officials by the Kentucky Education Department included moving the initial test date to March 18, with no make-up date or moving the initial test day to March 18 with a scheduled make-up day for April 1.JCPS assessment coordinator Erica Thompson said the original test date of March 4 is the best option to her district.Not offering a make-up date would leave some students without the opportunity to take the test, Thompson said, and rescheduling the initial test for March 18 and a make-up date for April 1 conflicted with JCPS spring break scheduling.“This is the opportunity for us to offer this free administration of this ACT to every single one of our juniors and we want them all to have that opportunity,” Thompson said.Other national testing dates are available throughout the spring, but the state-wide testing date is free and assists the district in determining college and career readiness among students.Nancy Rodriguez, spokesperson for the Kentucky Education Department, said the surveys were sent to districts at the beginning of the week and have all been returned. Education officials are compiling the results and a decision is expected to be made soon.Districts across the state are expected to be recommending different solutions, as every district has had varying affects from winter weather.JCPS has missed eight nine days of school.Perry County in eastern Kentucky has missed more than 20 days, while other districts in the western part of the state have missed just one or two days.Thompson said she hopes the decision will be made to keep the original testing date.“They have been preparing more than just this year,” she said. “The ACT is a test that is reflecting not just your junior year and the information and schooling you received during just that year. You have been building up for this through your high school career.”
