|
 Update
on Use of MEAP for Current and Future High School Testing
Michigan Department of Education, January 2005
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With the
publicity surrounding the adoption of the Michigan Merit
Examination (MME) several weeks ago, questions have arisen as to
the status of the current Michigan Educational Assessment
Program (MEAP) High School Test (HST). There is some confusion
about when the MME begins and what happens to the MEAP HST in
the interim.
Please share
this information with high school administrators, staff, high
school students, and their parents.
First, the MEAP HST will continue to be offered this school year
(2004-2005) and next school year (2005-2006). This means that
tenth, eleventh, and twelfth graders will continue to be
assessed with MEAP and that the scores will be used for dual
enrollment, accountability (NCLB and Education YES!), as well as
the award of the Merit Award for two more years.
This means that all high school students should take the MEAP
HST this year and next year. Educators should continue to teach
the skills assessed by the HST, not only because the test will
continue to be administered for two more years, but also because
these are skills essential to the future plans of high school
students. In addition, the Michigan standards and benchmarks
will form the basis of the new MME in the future.
During the next few months, staff of the Office of Educational
Assessment and Accountability, working with the Department of
Management and Budget’s Purchasing Office, will develop an
Invitation to Bid and conduct a competitive bidding process
involving the major college entrance testing organizations. The
goal is to determine no later than this coming fall which
program will be used as the basis of the MME.
During the 2005-2006 school year, a statistical alignment study
will be conducted. In this study, a random sample of eleventh
graders will take the MEAP HST (the test that will count) and
the test(s) selected for the MME. This study will assist the
state to set cut scores on the new tests equivalent to the
current MEAP HST passing levels.
These data, along with curriculum alignment information, will be
used to apply to the U.S. Department of Education (USDOE) to
shift the basis for the high school program to the MME. If the
USDOE approves by December 31, 2006, then in the 2006-2007
school year, several activities will occur:
• Tenth graders will take a college entrance readiness test for
purposes of dual enrollment. This will be the only test to be
used for dual enrollment purposes. Participation will be
voluntary and at student or school expense;
• All eleventh graders will participate in the MME in the
Spring, 2007;
• Twelfth graders who have not yet qualified for a Merit Award
may try to do so by retesting in the Fall 2006 and Spring 2007
using the MEAP HST if desired (or they may take the MME in the
Spring, 2007).
• Beginning with the 2006-2007 school year, students will
continue to qualify for a Merit Award based on the MME
assessments.
The following school year, 2007-2008, twelfth graders who did
not pass the MME as eleventh graders will have two additional
chances to do so (only one of which will be paid by the State).
Thus, the MME will be given in the Fall 2007 (for seniors only)
and in the Spring 2008, for all eleventh graders and the seniors
retesting.
As you can see from this tentative schedule of activities, it is
important that you communicate to faculty, parents, and students
that students need to continue to participate in the high school
assessments, whether MEAP or MME. The results and participation
rates will continue to be used to determine whether each high
school is making Adequate Yearly Progress. Merit Awards will
continue as well, and based on the assessments.
We will provide much more information on the transition
activities and progress we make in transitioning from the MEAP
HST to the MME as activities occur. We wanted to share this
information in an attempt to correct some of the misperceptions
that are being shared with us.
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