The M-STEP Steps Up
Sick of taking the old MEAP test (Michigan Educational Assessment Program) every fall? Good news for you! Starting this spring, West Bloomfield High School will be implementing the State of Michigan’s new standardized testing plan, the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress(M-STEP). The M-STEP will replace the MEAP as the annual test given to students in Michigan schools. Since testing takes place in the spring season rather than the fall, tests will contain material from the current school year instead of previously taught material. This test was created in order to meet the State Legislature’s requirements for the Spring 2015 testing period, because the Michigan Department of Education(MDE) was forced to create a new test after lawmakers rejected the Smarter Balanced test. The Smarter Balanced test was meant to replace the MEAP, but was rejected by conservatives because it was associated with the Common Core standards. M-STEP is an online test, however it does have a paper and pencil version if necessary. In the spring 2015 period, use of Apple iPads and Chromebooks will be allowed as testing devices.
Unlike the MEAP, the M-STEP test does not involve testing students in the ninth and tenth grade. Students in grades three through eight are tested, and then students are tested again in the eleventh grade. While in the fourth, seventh, and eleventh grades, students will be tested on science. Fifth, eighth and eleventh grade students will be tested on social studies, and students will be tested on both mathematics and English language arts from third through eighth grade, and eleventh grade.
In eleventh grade, students will still have to take the Michigan Merit Examination (MME), which consists of the ACT plus writing, WorkKeys, and an M-STEP summative in English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies. The English language arts segment contains portions of Smarter Balanced content as well as Michigan-developed field-test items that include a Computer Adaptive Test(CAT), a Classroom Activity, and a Performance Task.
The ACT plus writing was initially administered as a paper pencil test on March 3rd, with a makeup date of March 17th. WorkKeys will also be a paper pencil test, administered on March 4th, with a makeup date of March 18th. The eleventh grade M-STEP testing window will go from the week of April 13th to the week of June 1st. Online testing will be available all through the testing window, while paper pencil tests will only be from the week of April 13th to the week of April 27th.
SOURCES
http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-22709_70117_70118-341306–,00.html
chrome-extension://ecnphlgnajanjnkcmbpancdjoidceilk/http://www.michigan.gov/documents/mde/Spring_2015_Testing_Schedule_Update_464310_7.pdf
http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-22709_70117—,00.html
http://www.michigan.gov/mde/0,4615,7-140-22709_70117_70122—,00.html
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Avani Samandur is a junior who enjoys writing and expressing her opinions on pressing issues of the world. She believes that everyone should be informed...
Ghulam Rashid • Apr 29, 2015 at 10:19 am
It’s hard to believe that now, even testing can be done through technology, with the use of computers and tablets. This was considered impossible 5 years show!
Jade Hatcher • Apr 29, 2015 at 10:18 am
Since my class (the class of 2016) was the first class to take this M-STEP I do not think that this test is going to count as anything. I don’t think that test should have replaced the MEAP because technology is just too unreliable.
Pratham Dhanjal • Apr 29, 2015 at 10:02 am
There are certain things that I am just unsure about even after reading the article about this test. One of the major things that I am unsure about this test that wasn’t answered in the article was about how this test is scored. Like, what is the maximum score that can be given on each part and if there is an overall score that is given. If there is a an overall score, is it an average or are some of the subject weighed? Other than the scoring system I think I will understand the general stuff about the test so I am prepared for 11th grade.