Hermitage Parents and Stakeholders,
The Arkansas Department of Education, Division of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) released Commissioner's Memo COM-25-021 on 10/16/24 entitled 2024 ATLAS Assessment Results. I wanted to make sure that you are aware of the release of the data to you and the public while it was released to all districts across the state. Please be aware that our District Leadership and Building Leadership Teams are currently working on unpacking the results and developing a clear communication plan to explain the released data and required expectations that will be expected of our district, schools, and classrooms. What I know at this time is that DESE has not yet determined the Growth Methodology or the ESSA School Index Score criteria. Still, they are leaning heavily toward using the current federal formula for the ESSA Schol Index Accountability System criteria for Arkansas Schools. DESE’s website for more information regarding the ATLAS Assessment and the above-mentioned Commissioner’s Memo may be found at https://dese.ade.arkansas.gov/.
As we all dive into this data and understand the students' outcomes and needs, let us start compiling our questions. Please send questions by email to Hermitage administrators so that we can address them in our upcoming Title I Parent meeting and face-to-face parent conversations as best we can. We appreciate your thoughts and questions as we unpack the Piloted ATLAS Assessment outcomes and continue to receive guidance from DESE.
Mrs. Spain, Superintendent