Category Archives: Assessment

Maine science performance among top in nation

But NAEP results still point to need for more rigorous standards, commissioner says

AUGUSTA – Eighth graders in Maine scored higher than much of the nation in the most recent national science test, the 2011 National Assessment of Educational Progress, and the state was one of only 16 to show improvement since 2009.

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NAEP assessment administrators sought

The U.S. government contractor Westat is seeking assessment administrators for the 2013 administration of the National Assessment of Educational Progress, or NAEP.

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World language teachers invited to summer institute

Summer institute will kick off initiative focused on standards-based instruction and assessment in world languages classes

World languages teachers are invited to apply to attend the 2012 World Languages in Maine Schools Summer Institute from June 27-30 at the University of Maine at Farmington.

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CTE instructors contribute to national career readiness tests

Students taking video production, visual and performing arts, sound engineering and other multimedia courses at career and technical education centers across Maine regularly take assessments to determine whether they’ve mastered the course expectations.

Soon, multimedia students won’t be taking just any test, but an assessment that tests their mastery of the skills considered important by the businesses that might some day employ them. And their teachers will have had a hand in developing the test.

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Feedback sought on Smarter Balanced content

The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium recently released the third draft of its specifications for content that will appear on the next-generation, computer-adaptive assessments the consortium is developing in time for the 2014-15 academic year.

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Arts assessment initiative going strong

Regional workshops and regular webinars are continuing throughout the state as more arts teachers are trained to make assessment in arts education an integral part of the work they do to deepen student learning.

The work is part of the ongoing Maine Arts Education Assessment Initiative.

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Starting the serious work of crafting a new accountability system

Author icon: Head shot of Commissioner Stephen BowenWhen we took to the road in December, we wanted to hear what the public had to say about the system we use to hold our schools accountable. And hear from the public we did. We had more than 1,500 people respond to an online survey; several dozen turned out at public forums in Bangor, Portland and online.

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Test results released

Maine prepares for move to more advanced assessment system in three years

AUGUSTA – Maine students improved slightly in reading and more significantly in math in the latest New England Common Assessment Program tests, taken in October 2011. In writing, there was a slight decrease.

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‘Voice and choice’ in learning

By Maggie Stokes

The following were remarks made at the release of “Education Evolving: Maine’s Plan for Putting Learners First” on Jan. 17, 2012, at the Capital Area Technical Center in Augusta.

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Recognizing education’s evolution

Author icon: Head shot of Commissioner Stephen BowenAfter 10 months of collecting and considering the public’s feedback and thinking seriously about our priorities, we’ve publicly released a strategic plan for education in Maine.

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