'Next Generation' ACT

Earlier this month, ACT Inc., the creator and administrator of the ACT exam, announced plans to implement a comprehensive assessment program that it says will aid in preparing students for college, beginning in early elementary school.  The program, designed to work in combination with the Common Core State Standards, incorporates several metrics by which students are evaluated and provides more immediate feedback about students’ progress. The announcement comes just months after the College Board hired David Coleman, architect of the Common Core State Standards, as its newest president and CEO. The moves signal the continued commitment of both organizations’ to further penetrate American education, making testing a central focus.