Poll: 65% support for phone-free schools, state opens ATLAS portal

Almost 65% of Arkansas parents favored restricting student cell phones in schools in a poll commissioned by the national school reform group ExcelinEd.

In other education news, the Arkansas Department of Education released school and district results on the new Arkansas Teaching, Learning, and Assessment System (ATLAS) October 16.

The poll of 805 registered voters with K-12 students in the home found that almost 65% favored phone-free schools, with 42.03% strongly favoring the idea and 22.76% somewhat favoring it. Less than 30% opposed the idea, with 15.42% somewhat opposed and 14.37% strongly opposed.

Meanwhile, almost 85% of respondents said they would likely support legislation prohibiting children under age 16 from accessing social media platforms without parental consent after hearing research describing social media’s harms.

Respondents were told research showed that social media use by minors can “distract them from school work, disrupt sleep, expose them to online predators, lead to self-harm, and raise the risk of mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression.”

They then were asked if knowing that information made them likely or unlikely to support a law that would protect children from social media outlets without parental consent. The results were that 69.09% said they would very likely support such a law based on that research. Another 14.57% were somewhat likely to support such a law.

Less than 12% were unlikely to support such a law, with 6.59% very unlikely and 5.07% somewhat unlikely.

The poll had a margin of error of 3.8%. Little Rock-based Impact Management Group (IMG) conducted the poll. IMG is a partner in polling conducted by Talk Business & Politics and Hendrix College.

The poll found strong support for the education freedom accounts that were part of Gov. Sarah Huckabee Sanders’ LEARNS Act passed by lawmakers in 2023. Those accounts provide parents up to $6,856 per student for education expenses to attend a private or home school. The money comes from state funds that would have gone to the public school the student would have attended.

Almost 72% had a favorable opinion of the accounts, with 31.69% having a very favorable opinion and 40.3% having a somewhat favorable opinion. The favorables saw an uptick from 2023, when 28.71% had a very favorable opinion and 32.43% had a somewhat favorable opinion. In contrast, 9.98% had somewhat unfavorable and 10.32% had very unfavorable opinions.

Poll respondents were read the following description of the accounts before being asked their opinion: “An ‘education freedom account’ in K-12 education establishes for parents a government-authorized flexible spending account with restricted but multiple uses for educational purposes. Parents can then use these funds to pay for qualified expenses such as school tuition, tutoring, instructional materials for in-person or virtual instruction, curriculum, educational services provided to a student with a disability, education-related transportation costs, and more. What is your opinion of education freedom accounts?”

Robert Coon with Impact Management Group said favorable opinions were higher among Black respondents than white ones (78% to 71%), among respondents with lower than the median incomes versus those with higher incomes (77% to 68%) and among respondents without a bachelor’s degree compared to those with one (79% to 66%).

Another major element of LEARNS, the increase of minimum teacher salaries to $50,000, also had strong support. In the poll, 84.79% supported the increase while 10.43% opposed it. Last year, 79.5% supported the increase.

ATLAS TEST RESULTS RELEASED
The poll’s results were announced on the same day the Arkansas Department of Education released the ATLAS scores. The ATLAS test replaced the ACT Aspire test as the one taken by students in the spring. It has been designed to align with Arkansas academic standards. Parents will have access to their children’s scores though a portal. The scores on the new tests will serve as a baseline for future tests.

Students were tested broadly in kindergarten through 10th grade. Tests were administered in English language arts, math and science and at the end of the course in Algebra I, geometry and biology.

Students qualified for one of four levels. Level 4 students demonstrated an advanced understanding and were considered to be ready for accelerated work. Level 3 students demonstrated a proficient understanding and were considered ready to advance to the next grade level. Level 2 students were considered to have basic understanding and would need personalized support and intervention to advance to the next grade. Level 1 students were considered to have limited understanding and would require significant support and intervention.

The State Board of Education approved cut scores Oct. 10. The department had previously announced statewide scores.

Across all grade levels in grades 3-10, scores were as follows in English language arts:

– Level 4 – advanced: 10.04%
– Level 3 – proficient: 23.79%
– Level 2 – basic: 39.69%
– Level 1 – limited: 26.2%

In math in grades 3-8 plus algebra and geometry, scores were as follows:

– Level 4 – advanced: 11.54%
– Level 3 – proficient: 21.07%
– Level 2 – basic: 31.6%
– Level 1 – limited: 35.79%

In science grades 3-8 plus biology, scores were as follows:

– Level 4 – advanced: 12.55%
– Level 3 – proficient: 23.16%
– Level 2 – basic: 36.87%
– Level 1 – limited: 27.43%

Schools will use the scores to create individualized reading plans for K-2 students at risk of having reading difficulties. Students in grades 3-8 who scored Level 1 in math will have individualized math plans. A system for acceleration will be developed for more advanced students.

School and district scores can be accessed at https://myschoolinfo.arkansas.gov/. Click on either “Schools” or “Districts” at the top. Then, type the school or district name and click on the magnifying glass on the right. On the next page, click on the district or school’s hyperlink and then, on the next page, click on “Custom Report” at the top of the page.

The next steps are to select the 2023-24 school year, expand the “Student Assessment” tab, and select “ATLAS Achievement (2024).” From there, select the desired data elements and click on “Generate Report” on the bottom right of the page.