Schools assess knowledge gained in religion classes

Published: November 5, 2014

By Vernell Bowen
Superintendent of Schools

Vernell Bowen

The Catholic schools in the Diocese of Little Rock annually assess the students’ achievement in the academic areas through the Stanford 10 test at each grade level.

In February 2014, students in fifth and eighth grades in Arkansas Catholic Schools were administered the Assessment of Catechetical/Religious Education (ACRE). This is a test published by the National Catholic Education Association and is designed to strengthen catechetical/religious education programs. The assessment is based on the Catechism of the Catholic Church and the most recent catechetical documents.

The purpose of administering this assessment is to evaluate the effectiveness of the schools’ religion. This includes the printed curriculum communicated during a teaching-learning session and the formative experiences in and with the faith community such as the Sunday liturgy.

The reports received help the school principals, the Office of Catholic Schools and religion teachers to evaluate the curriculum content and teaching strategies used to deliver the curriculum. The report sheds light on faith knowledge, moral formation, prayer, morality and missionary spirit. This assessment cannot measure a student’s love of God or faith but assist the catechetical leaders to provide a sound, comprehensive religion program.

The purpose of this assessment is to give catechetical leaders information on the best ways to provide a sound, comprehensive religious education.

There are also affective statements that help the school to understand the students’ concerns or perceptions about issues such as teasing, bullying, cheating, fighting, cursing, racism, alcohol, drugs and personal safety by indicating if they think these issues are a problem or not a problem. The principal and teachers can look at the results of these questions and address the concerns through discussion or program changes.

Both Catholic and non-Catholic students are given the ACRE test. The data reports the number of Catholic students and the number of non-Catholic students taking the assessment. Generally, the non-Catholic students score the same percentages as the Catholic students. The students in Catholic schools in the Diocese of Little Rock score above the national average in all areas. Eighty-three percent of the eighth-grade students scored at proficient or advanced and 61 percent of the fifth-grade students scored at proficient or above.

Again the purpose of this assessment is to give catechetical leaders information on the best ways to provide a sound, comprehensive religious education program in the Catholic schools. Each principal has a copy of their individual school’s report. The principals are given a diocesan summary of the weakest areas. The Office of Catholic Schools uses these reports to help provide catechetical training for the teachers and to evaluate the diocesan religion curriculum.

As Christians we must remember that our faith is not just what we are able to impart with knowledge, but it is how we live out our faith in our daily lives. The goal of Catholic education is to provide an environment in which adults and students practice their faith throughout the school day and reflect this in their interactions in the communities in which they live. This is what our holy father, Pope Francis, is trying to teach through his actions.

Click for the Catholic Schools Herald, November 2014 index