MEAP Update

This post originally appeared on the Bear Facts Blog. It's my school blog that I am trying to start using again. You can check the school out at our website. 

Buckley Community Schools. Buckley, Mich. 49620.

It's that time of year

The State of Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) test window for grades three through nine will run from Oct. 8 – Oct. 25 2013, at Buckley Community Schools.

You have probably heard your children talking about the test and might have asked yourself, “Why is the MEAP test such an important part of your child’s school career?”

Several factors play into the reasoning that schools have put so much emphasis on preparation and performance on the state standardized test.

The Michigan Legislature has put a great emphasis on the test by tying performance to the state accreditation system called Education Yes!

Furthermore, it is also important to know that these assessments are also mandated by the federal government, through the No Child Left Behind Law (NCLB).

Another factor in the importance of the MEAP is that schools can study test results to help measure the effectiveness of the district curriculum. The Buckley Community Schools curriculum is based on the Common Core State Standards, the Michigan Curriculum Framework (MCF), as well as on Michigan’s High School Content Expectations and/or Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCEs).

These results are always shared with parents, providing families with opportunities to know where their children’s personal strengths and challenges are in learning.

The information can be used collaboratively by parents and schools to help students increase their abilities in the core content areas. Furthermore, the MEAP test helps prepare kids for future standardized tests, ones which are directly related to college entrance such as the SAT and ACT.

While many of the above factors underscore the importance of students participating and trying their best on these state assessments, it is also imperative for community members to know that it is inappropriate to rely heavily on test results to compare schools and districts.

Unfortunately, the reality is that sometimes through newspapers, television news stories, and public forums, MEAP results are showcased to illustrate how “good” or how “bad” a school/district might be.

When scores are reported for one year’s grade level group (i.e. “fourth grade”), the following year’s scores for that same grade level is actually an entirely different group of students — and sometimes a completely different test!

In conclusion, the MEAP test is only part of our extensive student assessment program. We incorporate local pre– and post–tests, the NWEA test, AimsWeb, and other assessments to measure our progress. While our school district is committed to using the MEAP test to increase student achievement, please realize that it is only a part of what we do to measure our students’ progress. We hope that families will continue to encourage students to not only do their best on these required state tests, but also in their learning pursuits every single day of their school career!

More information about our curriculum and assessment program is available at Title I Director/Testing Coordinator Mrs. Allys Dreves’ website,http://mrsdreves.weebly.com/district-testing--assessments.html.

Thank you for your support!