Mississippi's requirement for 11th-grade students to take the ACT^® during the academic year is an important initiative that aims to ensure that all students have the opportunity to attend college and are prepared for post-secondary education. This requirement aligns with the state's goal of increasing college readiness and attainment among its students, which is essential for the economic development and competitiveness of the state.

The ACT^® is a widely recognized and accepted college entrance examination that measures a student's knowledge and skills in various subject areas such as English, mathematics, reading, and science. By requiring all 11th-grade students to take the ACT^®, Mississippi is providing students with an opportunity to demonstrate their readiness for college and to identify areas where they may need additional support.

Additionally, this requirement also benefits students in terms of: 

• The college application process
• Scoring is a standard metric used by many colleges and universities in the admission process
• Students having a better understanding of what to expect when applying to college
• Making more informed decisions about which colleges to apply to

Moreover, the ACT^® results can be used as a valuable tool for measuring student progress and identifying areas where additional support may be needed. By requiring all 11th-grade students to take the ACT^®, Mississippi can gain a better understanding of the academic progress of its students, schools, and the state as a whole. This information can be used to improve educational policies and practices, and to ensure that all students have access to the resources and support they need to succeed in college and beyond.

How the ACT^® data can be used to support students:

• By taking the ACT^®, students can demonstrate their readiness for college and identify areas where they may need additional support.
• The ACT^® results can be used to track student progress over time and identify areas where students are excelling or struggling academically.
• The ACT^® can be used to identify student subgroups that may be in need of additional support, such as low-income students, students of color, and students with disabilities.
• By looking at ACT^® scores in conjunction with other data, such as attendance and disciplinary records, schools and state education agencies can identify students who may be at risk of dropping out and provide targeted support to help them stay on track.
• The ACT^® results can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of educational policies and practices, and to identify areas where additional resources and support may be needed.
• Schools and state education agencies can use the ACT^® results to identify best practices and replicate them in other schools and classrooms.
• ACT^® results can be used to identify areas where student performance is lower than expected and investigate the reasons behind it and find solutions accordingly.

In summary, Mississippi's requirement for 11th-grade students to take the ACT^® during the academic year is an important initiative that aims to increase college readiness and attainment among students. The ACT^® is widely recognized, accepted by colleges and universities, and provides valuable data on student progress and academic achievement, it also benefits students in terms of college application process, and can be used as a valuable tool for measuring student progress and identifying areas where additional support may be needed.