To be prepared for workforce skills, college readiness, and life students must possess a wide range of abilities. Students must gather, comprehend, evaluate, synthesize, report on information, solve problems, and analyze and create a high volume of print and nonprint information. There is a strong need for students to comprehend complex informational texts and to use this information in a wide variety of settings. This requires that reading, writing, speaking, listening, and mathematics skills are a shared responsibility in all content areas. This interdisciplinary approach is expressed in both the of Common Core Standards and in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP). The NAEP Framework calls for an increasing proportion of time spent on informational texts. This much stronger emphasis on reading informational texts creates a need for developing Informative/explanatory and argumentative writing.
According to NAEP and the Common Core

• Much stronger emphasis on informational text including history/social studies, science, and technical subjects.
• Much of this work must be done outside the ELA classroom.
• There needs to be a stronger emphasis on literary nonfiction.

While some states are using the two major assessments aligned with Common Core Standards (Smarter Balanced and PARCC), twenty seven states have chosen other tests. These state tests that blend elements of PARCC and Smarter Balanced Assessments include informational and argumentative writing. What is most important to note is that the PARCC and Smarter Balanced have lost popularity most significantly at the high school level.

This new emphasis on informational reading and writing is certainly reflected in all major assessments. We have been pioneers in stressing the importance of informational reading and writing. Our company specializes in nonfiction reading and using this information to develop informative and argumentative writing skills in all content areas.

We truly understand the connection between informative and argumentative writing and success on high stakes testing. The Smarter Balanced and PARCC Assessments, state developed writing assessments, along with the ACT and SAT Writing Tests all involve these important skills.

Twenty-five states require students to take the SAT or ACT.  For most of these states these college Admissions Tests have replaced other high school tests.   A new trend involves pairing the SAT and ACT with other state exams.  The SAT and ACT are used to measure college readiness, while the state-developed tests measure achievement.

We help educators integrate Common Core Standards into everyday practice.  We deliberately include the design of all major high stakes testing in every lesson we create.  Many districts who have participated in our professional development and use our materials have shown significant increases in district-developed writing assessments. We also help students succeed on national tests. For example, we have helped many high school students master the persuasive essay on the current ACT Exam and help students develop the analytical reading and writing skills that the SAT Exam requires.  Our core writing program “The Power of Three” also includes specific strategies for Performance Task Writing. Out high school program “The Power of Grammar” integrates the formats used on ACT and SAT Exams.