The Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) is given to students in Grades 3-9 each fall.
TRAVERSE CITY -- Students across the state are preparing for a new round of standardized assessment tests, but this year there is a shift in score targets for the MEAP.
In order to measure student growth and knowledge proficiency the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) requires public schools to administer annual standardized assessments to all students in Grades 3-9 and 11.
Effective this school year, MDE has approved an increase in the proficiency scoring targets (or 'cut scores') for both the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) and Michigan Merit Examination (MME) assessments. This shift will establish a higher standard of demonstrated proficiency more relevant to career- and college-readiness levels that promote higher productivity and success in the global economy we live in today.
The Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District (TBAISD) shares a supportive role in strategic development in school improvement planning and in analysis of student data with its constituent school districts in the five-county area. As a region, data* indicates students continue to achieve well above state averages in each of the five content areas tested: mathematics, reading, science, social studies, and writing. Over the past five years, regional performance trends have been on the rise and ISD officials say this positive pattern is expected to continue regardless of the state standards changing.
The Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) is given to students in Grades 3-9 each fall to assess skills learned through the end of the previous year in five content areas. Grades 3-8 are tested in reading and math. In addition, students in Grades 4 and 7 participate in a writing assessment, Grades 5 and 8 participate in a science assessment and Grades 6 and 9 participate in a social studies assessment. This year testing is scheduled to begin on October 11.
All MEAP scores are divided into four performance levels: Not Proficient, Partially Proficient, Proficient, and Advanced. Up to now, proficiency measures a student at a 'basic' level of knowledge in a given curriculum area. To ensure our students move beyond fundamental levels to become career and college ready, achievement standards need to increase and, as a result, schools may experience a decrease in level of proficiency ratings based on the scale determined by MDE.
It is important for the public to understand that the recalibrated cut scores simply change the definition of what it means to be considered 'proficient.' The basis of these tests has not changed. Data collection will continue to reflect positive measurement of performance and student growth. With a higher standard being set this year, parents and students need to understand that performance data is not on the decline, the bar has simply been set higher.In support of the decision to increase the assessment cut scores TBAISD Superintendent Mike Hill says, "Raising the bar of expectation is a natural progression in much of what we do. As educators it is our responsibility to prepare students for success in life and without increased rigor, challenges of the 21st century will not be met." Hill quotes Michelangelo in saying, "The greater danger for most of us lies not in setting our aim too high and falling short; but in setting our aim too low, and achieving our mark," and continues by saying, "We can't be content with status quo."
This shift from basic proficiency to 'college readiness' instills an improved alignment of skill sets required for success in today's knowledge-based economy and will provide a much better sense to Michigan students (and their parents) of whether they are progressing and adequately prepared for the next step in their education and/or career-path. The progression from MEAP to MME provides valuable insight for school administrators to evaluate the effectiveness of Michigan Grade Level Content Expectations, curriculum and instruction; and allows for teachers to analyze individual results and provide targeted instruction for the benefit of improved student growth.
While the Traverse Bay Area Intermediate School District (TBAISD) is pleased with student progress in MEAP and MME, the ISD places significant value on a broad spectrum of education assessment tools which allows a comparison of our students to their peers, not only within the state of Michigan, but across the nation. Looking at student achievement through AIMSweb, Plan, Explore and ACT assessments, implemented at various stages of elementary through secondary learning, allows this region's educators to see beyond MEAP assessments and gain further insight into each student's strengths and weaknesses in core content areas.
MEAP test results will be released to school officials by January 2012, followed by a public information release to be expected in March. In the end, a change in the state assessment cut scores may initially reflect negative results, but the overall goal is realized by our public schools as an opportunity which is in direct alignment with regional values of successful student growth.
TBAISD is not alone in its vision to be the best educational system in the world with constituent school districts across the five-county region and neighboring postsecondary schools working together to provide learning opportunities that support high student achievement and ensure Traverse Bay area students are ready for career, college and the 21st century world.