Testing
MCA-II Results: On Friday, November 17 many of our families received a report of their child’s academic progress as measured by the spring 2006 Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment-II (MCA-II).
The MCA-II is a new test of the reading and mathematic skills of 3rd, 4th, and 5th grade students that has not been without some significant challenges: from pencil smudges on the type of paper used for the tests to delayed results not being delivered until Nov. 15. Regardless, the results of the MCA-IIs may surprise you. It’s possible that your child’s scores on the MCA-II will be noticeably lower than they were on the previous MCA exam. As Minnesota’s Commissioner of Education, Alice Seagren, has cautioned, “…the MCA-II’s are much more rigorous than the original MCAs.” Because it is a new assessment, the refinement process may take a few years.
At Centennial Elementary we already know that our scores will pass all No Child Left Behind benchmarks. You can be sure our staff will analyze this year’s results and the construct of the MCA-IIs.
The next administration of the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment II for students in grades 3, 4 and 5 will be on April 24 & 25 (reading) and May 1 & 2 (mathematics).
Families may wonder why our district’s students in grades 2-5 also take the MAP Tests (Measures of Academic Progress). MAP tests are given each fall and spring. Data for each child is used throughout the school year to personalize instruction and support. Due to this differentiated instruction, we can expect for our students to make substantial academic growth by the time they take the spring tests. In other words, these tests are all about the kids.