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SALT LAKE CITY — A recently passed law in Utah isn't sitting well with some educators. They say it could be bad for at-risk students.
SB 271 was designed to clarify how the state grades schools. To measure how college-ready students are, each student is required to take a college-preparatory exam before they graduate. The state decided to use the ACT for that.
This is an upsetting move for some educators.
"I can think of individual students that I am very worried about, in our school, taking this test; kids who will go on to be mechanics, cosmetologists and vet techs who don't need this test and are going to be devastated by having to take it," said Anneliese Pixton, an academic coordinator.
For something like Salt Lake Community College or a certificate program, you don't need to take the ACT.
–Anneliese Pixton
She works with students who need to do a lot of work to qualify for graduation. Not all of these students will be able to go to college. So, taking the ACT may be a major blow to their confidence.
"(We tell them), ‘Yeah, you can go do HVAC. You can go to SLCC. Let's get you to cosmetology school -- all really fulfilling and meaningful careers.' But, when we send them to take the ACT, and it's like, ‘No, you're not ready for the real world,'" she said.
She said she knows of some students who either won't show up to take the ACT, or they'll fall apart during the test.
Related:
Utah ACT scores fall as more students take test
Utah students continue to outrank peer states in ACT test scores, but a record number of test-takers has caused average scores to drop in the state and around the country."Even if you do OK in high school and that test, it's not uncommon for (students) to get a 16 or 17 or 18, which isn't great," she said.
She also believes the ACT is becoming more obsolete as the years go on.
"For something like Salt Lake Community College or a certificate program, you don't need to take the ACT," she said.
She feels that if state leaders wants to grade how effectively schools are performing, they shouldn't just look at how prepared students are for college. She feels schools should also be measured on how job-ready they make their students.
