MEAP standardized testing

In new MEAP scores, some good news for Detroit Public Schools

Sarah Cwiek — Tue, 12 Feb 2013 03:50:31 +0000

There’s some good news for the Detroit Public Schools in newly-released Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) scores.

42% of the district’s 3rd-through-8th graders scored “proficient or advanced” in reading. That’s up more than 6% from the prior year.

Math scores jumped more than 4%, with fewer than 15% of students rated proficient.

In most subjects, Detroit students’ gains outpaced state averages. But the district’s scores still remain well below state averages.

Roy Roberts, the district’s emergency financial manager, says that’s exactly the sort of progress people should expect at this point.

“If I had walked in here and said we’ve improved every class by 25%, you oughta call the FBI,” Roberts said. “It doesn’t happen that way. It’s incremental improvement.”

The number of Detroit students tested did drop more than 20% this year, though, as the district’s enrollment shrunk significantly.

The state-run Education Achievement Authority took over 15 of the district’s lowest-performing schools last fall, leaving fewer kids in DPS. The district also has a dramatic long-term enrollment decline.

But that’s not the case at Dixon Elementary-Middle school on thecity’s far west side. That school has actually increased
enrollment—and posted some of the biggest gains citywide on this
year’s MEAP scores.

Principal Ora Beard took over the school three years ago. She says boosting student achievement in a school takes time—and lots of reaching out to students and parents to build trust.

“Our first year was totally building relationships,” said Beard. “And trying to get them to understand that we’re not here to fight you…we’re here to help you. And that’s what school’s got to be about.”

Fall MEAP results show reading and math gains

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Mon, 11 Feb 2013 19:15:07 +0000

The results are out for the Fall 2012 Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP).

They show gains in reading, mathematics and writing in all grades and most demographic groups.

The Michigan Department of Education says the MEAP tests are "based on career- and college-ready standards and are the only statewide measure of what students know and are able to do in grades 3 through 9."

In the press release sent out today, Governor Snyder shared his perspective on the results

“We’re moving in the right direction and that’s a credit to our schools, parents and the students themselves,” Gov. Rick Snyder said. “But much work remains..."

Education officials say in particular, students in grades 3 and 8 showed gains in reading proficiency (4.1 and 5.2 percent gain respectively).

Mathematics also had proficiency gains at all grade levels, with the largest gains occurring in grades 3, 4, and 5 (4.6, 5.0, and 6.1 percent gain respectively). Writing proficiency saw a 4.4 percent increase in grade 7 and a 2.2 percent increase in grade 4.

Michigan Radio's Sarah Cwiek reports there were gains in Detroit as well.

Citywide, Detroit’s third-through-eighth graders showed gains that outpaced state averages, for the most part. But the district’s overall scores remain relatively low.

MRPN's Jake Neher is reporting that the overall scores in science did not fare as well.

... less than 16 percent of students had passing grades in science, and that number is dropping.
Joseph Martineau is with the state Department of Education. He says that’s a serious concern, but the statistics might be a bit misleading.
“That’s simply a reflection of what is being expected by college and community college professors in science. They appear to have higher expectations of their students than, maybe, in some of those other content areas.”

The Detroit Free Press has a searchable database to see results for particular schools in Michigan. You can check it out to see how well your schools are doing.

Although the results were released publicly today, Michigan schools received them in December. This allows teachers to review and analyze those results, and use the information to potentially change their teaching.

- Chris Zollars, Michigan Radio Newsroom

Ann Arbor parents protest school tests

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Wed, 10 Oct 2012 20:27:29 +0000

Parents of children in Ann Arbor public schools are gathering signatures against what they call the overuse of standardized tests.

More than 150 people have signed the online petition so far.

They say students are tested too often between the pre-tests, practice tests and targeted testing for reading and math.

Ten-year extension sought for Michigan students to meet proficiency score

Michigan Radio Newsroom — Tue, 02 Aug 2011 19:04:34 +0000

The Michigan Board of Education wants an additional 10 years to get students prepared to meet the proficiency scores on state standardized tests. The federal goals call for all children to be proficient on state exams by 2014. State leaders want to waive the No Child Left Behind requirements for 10 years. They believe this period will prepare every Michigan student to be proficient in reading and math.

Jeff Bean is a Flint high school teacher. He says working to get all students proficient is noble but not realistic.

"It would be like me setting standards for medical professionals: I think everybody who goes into a cancer treatment should get cured. Let’s go for 100%. That’s a noble effort. But to dictate whether doctors get to keep their licenses or not based on whether they save every patient they see, is an incredibly unreasonable piece."

Bean believes extending the 10-year deadline is a way for certain leaders to buy time to change the federal goals. He says pre- and post-testing would be a more effective goal for students.

U.S. Secretary of Education, Arne Duncan, says more than 80% of the nation’s public schools could be labeled as ‘failing’ under the No Child Left Behind law requirements.

-Traci Currie - Michigan Radio Newsroom