This dispatch from the Maine DOE includes information about the following:
- Administration Dates
- Administration Webinar Presentation
- Student Registration/Infinite Campus State Edition (ICSE) Verification
- Free Student Readiness and Preparation Opportunities
Administration Dates – As in previous years, the 2013-14 Maine High School Assessment (MSHA) testing program will occur over two distinct administrations: the MHSA Science Test and the SAT Reasoning Test.
The MHSA Science Test will take place during a two-week window beginning Monday, March 24 and ending Friday, April 4. Any make-up science testing must also be completed during this timeframe. This science assessment consists of two 50-minute test sessions followed by a 15-minute student questionnaire. Please remember that students receiving (or who have applied to receive) accommodations on the SAT should use those same accommodations for the science test. Practice questions and other specific information regarding the MHSA Science test can be found at: http://www.maine.gov/doe/mhsa/resources/released.html.
The MHSA Science Test is available as an online test in 2014. Schools planning to participate in the operational online science test in March must participate in the online science pilot in January/February. Schools that are interested in participating in the online version of the science test should contact Susan Fossett at susan.fossett@maine.gov no later than Jan.10.
Measured Progress will be shipping the science testing materials via UPS for arrival at local high schools the week prior to testing. In the unlikely event that your school has not received the material by noon on Wednesday, March 19, please contact the MHSA Test Administration Helpdesk at Measured Progress (866-615-2745) to request overnight shipment of materials. There is no need to register your students for the science portion of the MHSA as a list of your third-year students has been supplied to Measured Progress from your ICSE data file and all science testing materials will be based on that data file.
Schools requiring Large-Print Materials for Science Testing should contact the MHSA Test Administration Helpdesk at Measured Progress (866-615-2745) by Feb. 28 to order large-print materials for students utilizing this accommodation.
The SAT Reasoning Test component of the MHSA will be administered on Saturday, May 3 with the official make-up occurring on Saturday, June 7. In keeping with past practice, students taking the SAT for Maine Purposes Only (MPO), resulting in scores that are not reportable to colleges, can take the MPO form of the test from May 5-14 at their respective high schools.
It is important to remember that all State testing materials are secure documents and security of the materials becomes the responsibility of the school upon signed receipt of delivery.
Administration Webinar Presentation -The Department, in conjunction with the College Board and Measured Progress, will present an MHSA administration workshop designed to address all aspects of the MHSA administration process. This presentation will be made via the Adobe Acrobat Connect Pro program. This computer-based conferencing system is easy to use and requires only an on-line connection and telephone to participate in the workshop. The date of the presentation is Tuesday, Feb. 11 from 10-11:30 a.m. and it can be accessed at http://stateofmaine.adobeconnect.com/mhsaadmin/.
If you have questions please e-mail susan.fossett@maine.gov as she will be coordinating this event. A copy of this broadcast will be posted on the MHSA website at http://www.maine.gov/doe/mhsa/training/index.html by Friday, Feb. 14.
Student Registration/Infinite Campus State Edition (ICSE) Verification -Students will be registered to take the SAT through an electronic, enhanced registration (E-reg) process unless the school opted out.
All bulk registration materials for the May 3 SAT administration will be distributed in January. There are two registration deadlines referenced in the Guide for School Staff: one regarding the deadline for filing a Declaration of Testing Accommodations form (students must use the same accommodation(s) for both the SAT and the science tests); and one for the bulk registration form. The individual high school codes assigned last year will remain the same and fee payment cards will not be used; the final school roster will serve as the official document for state payment purposes. The list of students at your school who are expected to participate in the MHSA program and for whom payment will be forwarded to the College Board can be found online within Infinite Campus State Edition.
To review the list for your school:
- Log into Infinite Campus State Edition https://maine.infinitecampus.org/campus/mese.jsp
- Ensure that the year is set to 13-14
- Open the Index Tab
- Open ME State Reporting
- Open the Assessment Reports folder
- Select Maine High School Assessment Reports
- Click Generate Report.
Your list of MHSA students will be in Excel. Save the list to your computer and then open the list. Verify that the list of students is complete and accurate.
Note: The MHSA list should contain the names of all students who are in their third year since initial enrollment into high school regardless of their present grade level.
If this list is incorrect (students need to be added or removed), contact the MEDMS Helpdesk at 624-6896 with the following information: name of school, name of student, state student ID, grade of student and the reason for adding or removing the student from the list. It is important to verify the accuracy of this list. The students listed are included in the participation counts for your school/school administrative unit. To ensure accurate accountability reports, please be sure to update Infinite Campus State Edition when changes occur.
Maine high school juniors who are homeschooled (and not enrolled in a private institution) are also eligible, but not required, to participate in the SAT Initiative. Homeschooled students should fill out a paper registration form and ask to be included in the bulk registration mailing from the local high school where they will take the test. The scores from homeschooled students will not affect the school scores of the local high school or district.
More specific information regarding the registration process can be found at: http://www.maine.gov/doe/mhsa/administration/registration.html.
Free Student Readiness and Preparation Opportunities – The Official SAT Online Course continues to be made available as a free, year-round readiness/preparation resource to all Maine public high school students in their third year of high school as well as to all faculty and administrators across Maine public high schools. If your school is not utilizing or maximizing this resource, more information can be found at http://www.maine.gov/doe/mhsa/resources/index.html/. MaryEllen Auriemma from the New England Regional Office of the College Board is also able to assist you and can be contacted at mauriemma@collegeboard.org.
Please be advised that the MHSA website is updated continually with the latest information regarding the high school assessment program. The MHSA website is located at http://www.maine.gov/doe/mhsa/index.html.
More information
- MHSA: Susan Fossett, Assessment Coordinator, (207) 624-6775 or (207) 624-6770 or susan.fossett@maine.gov
- Science Test Administration Helpdesk: Measured Progress at (866) 615-2745
- SAT Administration: The College Board at (888) 728-4357
- Infinite Campus State Edition: MEDMS Helpdesk at (207) 624-6896 or medms.helpdesk@maine.gov.