The Arkansas Department of Education released the End-of-Course exam results for the 2009-2010 school year today. You can find the press release here and the data here. And, here are a few highlights from the release.

Results from the state’s 2010 End-of-Course exams show gains over last year in algebra I and geometry achievement levels for public school students, but they reveal a decline in biology scores.

**********

The algebra I and geometry End-of-Course exams are used in the calculations to identify schools in need of improvement under the federal Elementary and Secondary Education Act (No Child Left Behind). A score of “proficient” – which is higher than a score of “pass” — must be attained under the federal requirements.

On the algebra I End-of-Course Exam, 73 percent scored proficient or higher in January and 76 percent did so in April

On geometry, 76 percent scored proficient or higher in January and 69 percent did in April

On biology, 40 percent scored proficient or higher in January and 36 percent did in April.

“The good news is more than nine out of ten students passed this test the first time around,” said Tom W. Kimbrell, Arkansas commissioner of education, “but the great news is that three out of four are mastering algebra at a proficient level.”