Family Guide To MAAP-2018

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A Family’s Guide to the MAAP Results

This past spring, your students took statewide tests in mathematics and English language arts
(ELA) developed by the Mississippi Department of Education in collaboration with teachers
across the state. This Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) test measures the
standards that are guiding classroom instruction and focus on the critical thinking, problem
solving and reasoning skills students need for success in higher education and the workforce.

The following are questions and answers that can help you better understand the assessments
and the results, and they can also guide your conversations with teachers. You also will find
links to valuable resources at the end of the questions and answers.

ABOUT MAAP

What is the Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP)?

 The Mississippi Academic Assessment Program (MAAP) measures students’ knowledge,


skills, and academic growth from elementary through high school.

 Student progress is measured from grades 3 through 8 with annual tests in ELA and
mathematics and in high school Algebra I and English II.

 MAAP assessments are designed to let parents know how their child is progressing, and
to give teachers more information to guide instruction. The goal of MAAP is to evaluate
and monitor student learning to ensure students develop the knowledge and skills they
need to graduate prepared for college or careers.

What does my child’s test score mean?


Your child’s score indicates how well your child met the expectations of the grade level. You will
also be able to see how your child did in comparison to peers across the grade, school, district,
and in some cases, state.

Why do we need a test and standards?


We needed a test created by Mississippi teachers to measure more challenging learning goals
that are guiding teachers’ instruction in the classroom in ELA and math. These standards focus
on the skills students need in the real world, like critical thinking, analyzing, and problem-
solving. The tests reflect the types of activities that students are now doing in the classroom
every day.

What subjects and grades are tested in MAAP?


MAAP assessed student performance in math and ELA in grades 3-8 and in English II and
Algebra I in high school.

How will my child’s score be used?


Teachers will use scores to guide their instruction so they can provide additional supports in the
areas where students need improvement or more challenging work in areas where they excel.
Scores will also be used to measure how well schools, districts and states are doing against the
standards.
When Will Score Reports be Available to Parents?
Parents will receive their students’ score reports in the fall. Each student’s score report will
indicate his/her performance level.

What is a “good score”?


We are committed to ensuring that all students are prepared with the critical thinking, problem
solving, and reasoning skills that they need to be successful in life.

How a student performed on the assessment will be shown on the score report. The five
performance levels are as follows:

Minimal –Level 1
A student performing below the Minimal level inconsistently demonstrates the knowledge or
skills that define minimal level performance.
Basic – Level 2
Students at the Basic level demonstrate partial mastery of the knowledge and skills in the course
and may experience difficulty in the next grade or course in the content area. These students are
able to perform some of the content standards at a low level of difficulty, complexity, or fluency
as specified by the grade-level content standards.
Passing – Level 3
Students at the Passing level demonstrate general mastery of the knowledge and skills required
for success in the grade or course in the content area. These students are able to perform
approaching or at the level of difficulty, complexity, or fluency specified by the grade-level
content standards.
Proficient – Level 4
Students at the Proficient level demonstrate solid academic performance and mastery of the
knowledge and skills required for success in the grade or course in the content area. These
students are able to perform at the level of difficulty, complexity, or fluency specified by the
grade-level content standards.
Advanced – Level 5
Students at the Advanced level consistently perform in a manner clearly beyond that required to
be successful in the grade or course in the content area. These students are able to perform at a
high level of difficulty, complexity, or fluency as specified by the grade-level content standards.

How will test results be used?


The results from the MAAP assessment will be used in school and district accountability labels.
High school students have several graduation options available, which can be found here.

Will these scores exempt students from postsecondary remedial education?


Our academic standards are guidelines that have been mapped to what students need to know to
be able to successfully complete entry level college courses without remediation. Students
meeting or exceeding grade-level achievement standards should not need remediation in
college.

Will these scores impact student promotion?


The reading portion of the 3rd Grade MAAP English Language Arts assessment is used to
determine whether a student qualified for promotion to the 4th grade.

Will these scores impact student graduation?


If students do no pass the Algebra I or English II assessments, they have several other options to
demonstrate that they qualify for graduation.

Is there a listing of school or district state testing scores available?


All school and district data are posted in the “Reports & Data” section of the MDE website,
www.mdek12.org.

SCORING
What if students did well on his or her report card last year, but not as well on the
test?
A statewide assessment is only one of several measures that are used to determine your child’s
academic performance. Report card grades include multiple sources of information including
participation, work habits, group projects, and homework, all of which are important in
determining a child’s academic achievement. These sources are not reflected on a statewide
assessment.

ABOUT INDIVIDUAL STUDENT SCORES


How can teachers help students improve and make progress on next year’s test?
Teachers can use the information in the score reports to guide instruction. Students’ scores in
the math and English language arts/literacy categories can inform next steps for teaching and
learning.

From the score report, is it possible to identify where a student excels and where
he or she needs more support and practice?
On a child’s score report, the scores in math and English language arts/literacy are broken down
into sub-categories. Your child’s score in each will help parents understand the progress their
child is making and whether he/she needs additional practice or needs to be challenged by going
deeper into a subject.

Not all questions on the test are broken into the sub-categories so the sub-scores will not add up.

PARENT RESOURCES
How can I use these test results to help my child improve?
You can use your child’s scores to locate supplemental activities designed specifically for each
category at every grade level. You can also use the test results to guide a discussion with your
child’s teacher(s) about additional supports or challenges that may be needed in class, as well as
other ways to support your child at home.
Additional resources are available for parents to help their child:
Parent Guides for Student Success
Reading Resources
Literacy

What types of questions were asked?


The test included traditional multiple choice questions as well as questions that asked students
to write well-organized essays and explain their reasoning. Walk through a practice test and see
sample test questions here.

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