Overview of Michigan’s Secondary Assessments of Science

1. Overview of Michigan’s Secondary Assessments of Science Edward Roeber Office of Educational Assessment and Accountability

2. Michigan’s Science Assessments • Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) - Grades 5, 8, and 12 • Michigan Merit Examination (MME) - Grade 11 • Secondary Credit Assessments

3. MEAP • Copies of the MEAP tests are available at www.michigan.gov/meap. • Scoring rubrics and samples of student responses are also available • MEAP results by school and district are available online

4. Current Science Design • Science assessments are comprised of multiple-choice items and constructed-response items • Some content standards are assessed year after year • Other content standards are also focused on over a three-year cycle

5. MEAP Item Development • MEAP items are developed by Michigan teachers - item development meetings occur each summer • Also using Michigan’s professional subject-matter groups (e.g., MSTA) to assist in item development • Assures that MEAP assessments are relevant to our schools • Provides a valuable professional development opportunity for Michigan educators

6. Secondary Assessment in 2006-2007 • MEAP High School Assessment at grade 12 only (for students to qualify for the Merit Award) • With Federal approval, implement the Michigan Merit Examination in the Spring of 2007

7. 2007 Michigan Merit Examination MME Assessment Design • Grade 10: College entrance readiness test (PLAN or PSAT - local school/student choice and cost)

8. 2007 Michigan Merit Examination MME Assessment Design • Grades 11 and 12: Michigan Merit Examination • English Language Arts - ACT Reading, Writing, and ELA; WorkKeys Reading for Information; 1 Michigan Social Studies item • Mathematics - ACT Mathematics; a few items from ACT Science; WorkKeys Applied Mathematics; 15 Michigan items • Science - ACT Science; 53 Michigan items • Social Studies - 59 Michigan items

9. 2007 Michigan Merit Examination MME Assessment Design • 2007 assessments based on old standards; science will transition in two years after standards approved

10. 2007 Michigan Merit Examination Components and Score Contributions

11. MME Assessment Administration • Grade 10 - When scheduled locally

12. MME Assessment Administration • Grades 11 and 12 - Spring and Fall • Spring Administration (Mid-March) • ACT administration (Day 1) • WorkKeys assessments + Michigan Mathematics (Day 2) • Michigan Science and Social Studies (Day 2, 3, or 4) • Make-ups: two days exactly two weeks later

13. MME Assessment Administration • Grades 11 and 12 - Spring and Fall • Fall Administration (Nationally-administered Saturday in October) • Saturday administration for ACT and WorkKeys • Michigan components the following week

14. MME Assessment Schedule • MME administered statewide • March 13, 2007 - ACT • March 14, 2007 - WorkKeys + Michigan Mathematics • March 14-16, 2007 - Michigan Science and Social Studies

15. MME Assessment Schedule • Make-up testing scheduled two weeks later • March 27, 2007 - ACT Makeup • March 28,2007 - WorkKeys + Michigan Mathematics Makeup • March 28-30 - Michigan Science and Social Studies Makeup

16. MME Assessment Schedule • Test centers offered for non-public students • More information on MME is available at www.michigan.gov/mme

17. Science Design - Future • Focus on key student outcomes at the state level

18. Science Design - Future • By looking at learning progressions, the goal is to create assessments that work together • Formative assessments for classroom teacher use • Benchmark assessments for district use • Summative assessments for use at the state level

19. Science Design - Future • Develop the assessment system (state, district, and classroom-based assessments) at the same time to assure that the pieces work together to support learning of the content expectations.

20. Science Design - Future • Create a coherent, coordinated assessment system • Different assessment types will be developed • State: multiple-choice and written response • District: multiple-choice and written response • Classroom: multiple-choice, written response, performance assessments, projects, and portfolio-based activities

21. Science Design - Future • Based on the same content standards and expectations • Provide classroom and benchmark assessments to local districts for voluntary local district use

22. Science Design - Future • Implement new state assessment 2-3 years after the revised state standards are approved by the SBE • Grades 5 and 8 MEAP assessments • Grade 11 MME assessment

23. Future Science Assessments • Once content expectations are approved, three types of assessments will be created • MEAP Science assessments • MME Science component • Secondary Credit Assessments - in Science

24. Future Science Assessments • Science assessments will be created by Michigan teachers and will be field tested a year before they are implemented.

25. Science Design - Future • Make sure the MEAP assessments at all levels are aligned with Michigan’s content standards and content expectations (NCLB requirement) • Use Webb methodology to first determine what assessment augmentation is needed • Select or develop and validate needed assessments • Use Webb methodology to verify alignment

26. Science Design - Future • Make sure the MEAP assessments at all levels are aligned with Michigan’s content standards and content expectations (NCLB requirement) • Submit final information to the U.S. Department of Education (USED) • Obtain USED approval of the changes to assessment at all levels • Use assessment information for EducationYES!

27. Future MME Science Assessments • Examine new High School Content Expectations • Determine what part(s) are assessed in ACT Science test • Determine what portions of the remaining content expectations are suitable for state summative assessment • Determine for which content expectations new item development needs to take place • Carry out item development

28. Future MME Science Assessments • Pilot test the new items • Review and revise the new assessments • Field test the items by embedding them in operational forms • Using field-test data, assemble the new tests and develop test directions for these new assessments • Provide technical and other information to USED to show the technical adequacy of these assessments.

29. Future Secondary Credit Assessments • High school graduation legislation requires the creation of end-of-course exams • Science Secondary Credit Assessments will be created in Biology, Chemistry, Physics, and Earth Science

30. Future Secondary Credit Assessments • Assessments will be developed for traditional, integrated and applied instruction • Legislation requires districts to use an “approved assessment” to certify accomplishment of the course/credit

31. Future Secondary Credit Assessments • Michigan is proposing to create a “formative” credit assessment system so that students can receive credit by passing exams given before, during or after instruction. • Assessments would be delivered online so that students could be assessed when the students or the teacher are ready

32. Future Secondary Credit Assessments • Assessments need to be ready within three years, although some exams will be ready sooner • Biology may be ready within a year

33. Future Secondary Credit Assessments • Use is voluntary at the district level • The goal is to assure that students are exposed to and learn rigorous content to match the title of the credit area

34. For Questions and Comments • Dr. Edward Roeber Michigan Department of Education Office of Educational Assessment & Accountability P.O. Box 30008 Lansing, MI 48909 (517) 373-0739 voice0739 voice RoeberE@michigan.gov