Michigan State
Assessments:
What Do
Families Need to
Know?
Overview of Discussion
1. What the new assessment means for your child
2. What your child can expect
3. Ways to support your child
4. How to interpret test results
5. Additional resources for parents
2
What the New
State Tests Mean
for Your Child
New Statewide Tests
•
Michigan adopted higher, more focused standards–Michigan’s
Academic Content Standards–in 2010 to better prepare students for
college, technical schools, and careers.
•
Our education system was falling short in developing the
communication, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills students
need to succeed after high school.
•
•
New standards require new state tests that better measure these skills
and allow students to show what they know and what they can do.
•
Example Third Grade Reading Standard: “Determine the main idea of a
text; recount the key details and explain how they support the main
idea.”
4
New Statewide Tests
• Students in grades 3-8 and 11 will take new English
language arts and mathematics tests. The M-STEP
replaces the MEAP. The tests include two
components that can each be taken online.
• Computer Adaptive Test
•
•
Short-answer, technology-enhanced, and multiple choice questions
Test is customized for each student
• Performance Task
•
•
Longer multi-step questions, including essays
Students solve real-world problems
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What is Smarter Balanced?
•The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium
• A group of states that have worked together to
develop high quality tests in English and Math that
are aligned to the new standards.
• Michigan joined Smarter Balanced to create a new
test aligned to our standards.
• The tests were field-tested in
Spring 2014 by more than
4 million students in 21 states,
including Michigan.
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Assessment Transition
What Do the English Tests
Measure?
• Can students read closely to comprehend a range of
complex literary and informational texts?
• Can students write effectively for a range of purposes and
audiences?
• Can students listen effectively for a range of purposes?
• Can students use research skills to investigate topics,
analyze, and present information?
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What Do the Math Tests
Measure?
• Can students explain and apply math concepts and perform
math procedures?
• Can students solve problems using their knowledge of
concepts and problem solving strategies?
• Can students analyze real-world scenarios and create
models to solve problems?
• Can students build practical arguments to support their own
reasoning?
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How Do I Know What
My Child is Expected to
Learn This Year
• The PTA developed gradespecific “Guides to Student
Success” so you know the skills
your child should master and
what he or she is expected to
know every year:
www.PTA.org/CommonCore
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What Students
Can Expect
What’s Different About
the Tests?
•
The new tests go beyond the “bubble test.”
Students show their work through:
•
•
Extended writing, and multi-step questions which require students to apply the skills
they have learned.
They measure:
•
•
•
•
Problem-solving
Writing
Critical thinking
Reading and listening comprehension
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How Long Will the Tests
Take?
•
•
These tests may take longer.
•
Thinking critically, reading deeply, and writing a wellthought response takes more time than simply filling in a
bubble.
•
Necessary skills to practice and master.
Estimated Time: 7-8 ½ hours
•
12 week period (8 weeks for high school)
•
One to two hours per day
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What Will be Different in
Math?
Students will:
• Show their work and demonstrate that they understand a concept
in addition to memorizing the formula.
• Apply their mathematical knowledge to solve real-world problems.
• Describe their reasoning.
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th
5
EXAMPLE:
Grade
Math Test
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th
5
EXAMPLE:
Grade
Math Test
New Michigan State Assessment Example:
.
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What Will be Different in
English Language Arts?
Students will:
– Show they can read and understand complex passages.
– Use evidence to support their ideas in written responses at
every grade level.
– Research a topic and use the findings to make a claim and
draw a conclusion.
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th
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EXAMPLE:
Grade ELA
Test
Previous State Assessment Example:
Your principal is considering requiring assigned seats in
every classroom. Do you think students should have
assigned seats in every class? Take a position on this issue.
Write a multiple-paragraph letter to persuade your
principal to support your position.
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th
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EXAMPLE:
Grade ELA
Test
New Michigan State Assessment Example:
You have read several sources about the production of pennies in the
United States. Using your sources, write a multi-paragraph argumentative
essay either for or against the continued production of the penny in the
United States. Make sure you establish a claim, address
counterarguments, and support your claim with evidence from the
sources you have read. Develop your ideas clearly and use your own
words, except when quoting directly from the sources. Be sure to
reference the sources by title or number when using details or facts
directly from the sources.
.
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Ways to Support
Your Student
How Can I Help at Home?
• Review a practice test with your child:
http://www.michigan.gov/mde/practice-test/
• Talk with your child and reassure him/her that these
tests aren’t the kind you “cram” for, but just measure
what they’ve mastered from their classwork.
• Assure your child they have enough time to finish.
• Have them read a variety of materials at home,
including fiction and informational texts.
• Involve learning in everyday activities. Mix math into
cooking or shopping. Ask children to express opinions
and to back their views.
How To Interpret
Test Results
New Tests, New Baselines
• These upgraded tests are harder.
• With a greater emphasis on deeper learning, we have
raised the bar for our students, parents, and teachers.
• We can expect that fewer students will clear this higher bar
than have in the past. That doesn’t mean that students
know less or are doing worse.
• This year’s test will establish a new baseline to measure
progress going forward.
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How Will Scores be Used?
Test results will help schools to:
•
Make instructional decisions.
•
Determine individual needs of students:
 Extra support?
 More challenging work?
 Recommendations for future classes?
•
Scores do not impact GPA, class ranking, or college admission.
•
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Thank You To Our
Teachers
A Transition:
• Learning the new standards
• Engaging lessons
• Helped develop the Smarter Balanced test
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Additional
Resources
Where Can I Find More
Info?
Great Web Sites
• Smarter Balanced Practice Tests: Reading, Writing, Math
• Practice Tests http://sbac.portal.airast.org/practice-test/
• Smarter Balanced Info: www.smarterbalanced.org
• Parent Friendly Information and Resources: BeALearningHero.org and
Facebook.com/bealearninghero
• Michigan Department of Education: http://www.michigan.gov/mde
• National PTA: www.PTA.org/CommonCore
• Michigan PTA: www.MichiganPTA.org/CommonCore
• www.homeworkhelp.com
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Questions