ACT blunder in TN

Momma bears, in case you haven’t heard, we have some serious ACT problems in Knoxville and Jamestown. 
From Wednesday, November 15, in the Knox News:

October ACT tests at Bearden High School won't be scored due to error

Bearden High School has announced the latest round of ACT tests will not be scored due to an error.

ACT told school officials that it "cannot guarantee the validity of" the tests taken by seniors on Oct. 17 because the wrong tests were sent to the school, according to a letter sent to parents and students.

Seniors will be able to take the ACT for free on Dec. 9.

"I understand how disappointing this news is, I personally apologize for this issue," reads the letter from Bearden High School Principal John C. Bartlett.
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Here's the letter in full:
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"Dear Bearden Parent and Senior Student,
Due to circumstances beyond our control, the October 17, 2017 ACT will not be scored. ACT has decided that they cannot guarantee the validity of the test given at Bearden High School on this state testing day because the wrong tests were sent to Bearden High School and administered to BHS students. Because of this, ACT is offering senior students vouchers for any ACT National Test Day. To take advantage of these vouchers, the BHS Senior Counselors will have the vouchers available as soon as we receive them from ACT. The counselors will be in the West Mall during lunch next week as soon as we receive the vouchers. Students may still sign up for the ACT test given on December 9, 2017; however, students need to sign up as soon as possible. They will be allowed to use the voucher for this test date without having to pay a late fee.’

This information came weeks before most college's scholarship deadline.   These kids have worked hard and invested time and their parents invested money into this test and the preparations for it.  This is the final ACT they can take before scholarships deadlines for schools across the country.  This non-scoring of the test is due to a failure by ACT to send the correct test to these two schools.  These kids did nothing wrong and yet they are the ones who will be penalized in missed scholarship deadlines and less money to pay for college.
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ACT has offered to give them a free test on December 9 but for a lot of schools and scholarships that testing date is too late.

 

​Momma Bears let’s hear you

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We are asking ALL of you (regardless of where you live) to take a second and do the following:

1) Contact ACT and express your support for the release of the Bearden High School and Alvin C. York Agricultural Institutes students' scores from the October 17th test in Knoxville and Jamestown, TN.
ACT CEO: Marten Roorda
ACT Chief Commercial Officer: Suzana Delanghe
Admin assistant: Sandy Serbousek
Direct line: 319-337-1079
Sandy.serbousek@act.org

2) Share the videos linked below regarding the Knox County Council PTA press conference. Tweet them... Facebook them... or whatever else you do socially. Please use the hashtags: #ACTBlunder2017 #GiveUsOurScores

• http://www.wbir.com/mobile/article/news/local/education/knox-county-council-pta-president-we-want-act-to-reverse-this-decision/51-492754955
• https://www.facebook.com/cheryl.masur/videos/2085931078087565/?hc_ref=ARSBtMSLaYBLRZoJOPtFErLt6GpVM7QGmpNNfNDzBQ65StSZHQXlRM-k1e5ahESBVFw&fref=nf&pnref=story.unseen-section 
  

​​     ACT Decision Derails BHS Student/#1 Athlete/Teacher’s Son’s Dream: Give up your dreams to go to the U.S. Naval Academy, the U.S. Air Force Academy or Duke University— or give up your #1 Ranking as best wrestler in the state.... That’s the question facing Kathy McCoy’s son ever since the ACT organization decided not to release the test scores for hundreds of Bearden High School students. Kathy’s also a BHS teacher and says the ACT decision is very impactful and harming her son and the other Bearden seniors. #ACTblunders2017 #GiveUsOurScores
 
3) If you live in Iowa or have any relatives in Iowa (especially if you live in the Iowa City area where ACT is headquartered) express your disappointment over their handling of this situation. That's NOT the Mid-West way!!!

Stop and think about if YOUR child/niece/nephew/godchild/grandchild/etc studied for MONTHS. Spent money in test preparation. Were committed to raise their ACT scores to get into college, to receive scholarships, or get into specialized programs, and ACT pulled the rug out from under them. Wouldn't you want the world to hear your story?!?

Make your voices heard. 💗
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#ACTBlunder2017 #GiveUsOurScores