Physical Science Assessment Designer

Position Type: Part-Time

Job Title: Physical Science Assessment Designer 

Reports To: Director of Design & Development

Contract Length: Project Duration

Job Summary:  Virtual Arkansas’s goal is to design and develop high quality curriculum, instructional, and assessment materials aligned to the Arkansas Curriculum Frameworks and to ensure that those resources support student learning at the highest levels, as demonstrated by student performance on the ATLAS, AP, ACT, SAT and other assessments. Virtual Arkansas Assessment Designers participate in the scripting and creation of high quality assessment questions for the assigned course. These positions focus on the production of aligned, accessible, mastery based, copyright compliant assessment questions that provide reliable data for student learning outcomes.

Virtual Arkansas Assessment Designers will be responsible for building and enhancing the assessment banks for the following courses:

• Grade 5 World Geography

• Grade 6 World History Beginnings to 1500

• Grade 7 US History to 1850

• Grade 8 US History 1850-1930

• HS World History Since 1450 (Grade 9)

• HS US History Since 1890 (Grade 10)

• HS Economics w/Personal Finance

• HS Civics

• HS Psychology

• HS Sociology

• MS/HS Arkansas History

• Concurrent Credit US History to 1877

• Concurrent Credit US History Since 1877

• Concurrent Credit World History to 1500

• Concurrent Credit World History Since 1500

Supervisory Responsibilities: 

• None

Duties/Responsibilities: 

• Create robust test banks of aligned assessment items per Arkansas course standard (KPE or SPE).


• Collaborate with specialists, agencies, and developers in a phased approach for producing quality ATLAS style assessment items appropriate to the assigned course according to state content standards.


• Curate and create aligned, accessible, copyright compliant assessment questions at the appropriate depth of knowledge, and rigor.


• Participate in collaborative team meetings and professional development for personal growth and skill acquisition related to project needs


• Script all assessment text, media, and related content


• Design assessments using research based best practices to support data driven instruction for student learning outcomes 


• Attend course planning and design meetings whether virtual or face to face


• Pay close attention to detail to ensure accuracy, appropriateness, and legality of content


• Prioritize and adapt to meet required deadlines


• Abide by all Virtual Arkansas and applicable Arch Ford ESC policies and/or regulations


• Other duties as assigned

Required Skills/Abilities: 

• Strong  verbal and written communication skills 


• Strong  interpersonal, teamwork, and customer service skills


• Proficiency in using digital tools and platforms


• Strong  organizational skills and attention to detail


• Efficient time management skills with a proven ability to meet deadlines


• Ability to learn and adapt to new and emerging technologies 

Education, Experience, and Qualifications: 

• Completion of DESE, Education Service Cooperative, and/or Cambium professional development on ATLAS (Arkansas Teaching and Learning Assessment System).


• Experience designing quality formative and/or summative assessment items and rubrics aligned to standards.


• Content area expertise and familiarity with current Arkansas Curriculum Standards for position


• Understanding of how data is used to inform instruction/RTI


• Completion of Science of Reading professional development (awareness or proficient depending on grade level)


• Bachelor degree (minimum); Masters degree desired


• Three years of blended/online teaching experience is desired


• Online course development and design experience is desired


• Demonstrates high quality verbal and written communication skills


• Demonstrates creative writing and research abilities


• Teacher Licensure for the requested content area and grade level

Physical Requirements: 

• Prolonged periods of sitting at a desk and working on a computer


• Periodic travel requirements


• Sit, stand, walk, stoop, kneel, or crouch


• Use hands to handle or feel, type, and pick up objects, and reach with hands and arms;


• Talk or hear to communicate effectively


• Frequently lift and/or move up to 10 pounds and occasionally lift and/or move up to 25 pounds

Other Information:

• This position will be hired through the Arch Ford Education Cooperative


• Telework from home office