The Maplewood Richmond Heights School District plans to pick up where the state of Missouri has dropped off, paying for its high school juniors to take the ACT college readiness assessment test.
Gov. Eric Greitens this summer cut $4 million in school assessment funding, which included the cost for all public high school juniors to take the ACT.
Maplewood Richmond Heights is one school district that will pick up the $46 fee per test for its students, St. Louis Public Radio has reported.
MRH Assistant Superintendent Roxanna Mechem told NPR she was surprised when state education officials ended the free exam program. “ACT is an important part of our college readiness measures and so that just seemed like something we should continue to do,” Mechem said.
Hazelwood, Normandy, Pattonville, Parkway, Rockwoods and Kirkwood are among other St. Louis County school districts that will pay the fee in 2018 for their students to take the test.
The Brentwood School District hasn’t responded immediately to a request if Brentwood will cover the cost.
This is a great way to spend district funds, the kids need to know where they stand academically in order to work on their weak areas before they take the big one their senior year.
Way to go, MRH!