State of Montana Newsroom
Superintendent Arntzen Releases Statewide Assessment Scores for Math and Reading
HELENA, MT – Superintendent Elsie Arntzen announces the 2021-2022 federally mandated end-of-the-year summative assessment scores for Montana. The summative assessment measures Math and Reading, or English Language Arts (ELA), proficiency in grades 3-8 and 11 and is required through the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA). The federal Department of Education did not issue any waivers during the 2021-2022 school year as in the previous two school years.
“I am proud of the resiliency our Montana students have shown through the school closures and uncertainties of COVID,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “We have work to do to increase math skills throughout our state. I am focusing on opening our state math standards that haven’t been revised in over ten years. I am also creating math innovation zones that will increase our teacher’s confidence in teaching math so that our Montana students can achieve educational excellence. This fall, the new innovative MAST pilot program will launch in participating 5th and 7th grade Montana classrooms to more accurately measure student learning in Montana which will lead the way to student success.”
The federal government requires 95% participation for the summative assessment. In the 2021-2022 school year, 98.2% of 3-8 grade students participated in the Reading assessment and 96.7% of 3-8 grade students participated in the Math assessment.
Reading proficiency was:
- 2021-2022 – 46.1%
- 2020-2022 – 46.4%
Math proficiency was:
- 2021-2022 – 36.5%
- 2020-2021 – 35.6%
During the 2021-2022 school year 90.5% of high school juniors completed the Reading portion of the ACT and 91.9% completed the Math portion. The average score for Montana was 18.6. Traditionally the national ACT college readiness average has been 22 out of a maximum of 36. The Montana Board of Regents adopted new admission requirements on May 27, 2021, where the need for students to provide ACT or SAT scores for admission to its campuses is not required.
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