Testing dates and requirements for 2012-13

The following communication summarizes the state-required assessments schools are to administer during the 2011-12 school year and the associated testing dates.

Maine’s Comprehensive Assessment System consists of the following assessments, which measure Maine Department of Education Regulation 131: The Maine Federal, State, and Local Accountability Standards for accountability purposes in reading, mathematics and science. While writing is not part of the federal accountability system, Maine chooses to assess writing at grades 5, 8 and 11. Please refer to the complete list of 2012-13 assessment-related dates.

NECAP – Grades 3-8

The NECAP test in reading and mathematics at grades 3-8 and writing at grades 5 and 8 will be administered in Maine schools from October 1 to 23, 2012. Test administration presentations and other administration information are located at http://www.maine.gov/education/necap/admininfo.html.

PSAT – Grade 10 students only

The PSAT is required of all 10th grade high school students and will be administered on October 17, 2012. It is no longer required of 11th grade high school students. The PSAT assessment program is not part of Maine’s federal accountability system. More information can be found at http://www.collegeboard.com/student/testing/psat/about.html.

WIDA ACCESS for ELLs® for all K-12 English Language Learners

All K-12 English learners (ELs) in Maine, including recently arrived ELs, must be assessed for English language proficiency by participating in the WIDA ACCESS for ELLs® during the testing window of December 3, 2012 to February 1, 2013. Those students who arrive after the testing window has closed must be assessed with either the WIDA W-APT™ or WIDA MODEL™, and the score reports must be faxed to the Maine DOE (207-624-6771). A recently arrived EL is an EL who enrolled in any U.S. school for the first time on or after October 1, 2011.

WIDA student labels are automatically ordered by Maine DOE for all English Learners based on the LEP data contained in the Infinite Campus State Edition (ICSE) on October 15, 2012. This data must include the date of the student’s first enrollment in a U.S. school. To ensure accurate student labels, schools must update and verify the ICSE enrollment data contained in the ACCESS for ELLs® Label Roster Report before October 15 by following the procedure outlined in the Infinite Campus State Edition section below.

WIDA tests are ordered by districts between October 1 and October 19, 2012 in accordance with information emailed directly from MetriTech. Test ordering information is also available by contacting MetriTech at wida@metritech.com or by calling 1-800-747-4868.

Training for test administrators is available online at: www.wida.us. Questions about online training should be directed to: help@wida.us. Live training is available January 7, 2013, 8:30 a.m.-3:30 p.m. in room 103 of the Cross Office Building located in Augusta.  For registration and information, contact Gail Benvenuta at 207-624-6716, or esl.doe@maine.gov

PAAP – Grades 2-8, 10 & 3rd year high school

The alternate assessment (PAAP) will be administered as follows:

  • reading and mathematics for students in grades 2-7, 10 & 3rd year high school
  • science for students in grades 5, 8, and 3rd year high school
  • writing for students in grades 4 and 7 and 3rd year high school level

The PAAP administration window will run from December 1, 2012 through April 30, 2013.

Additional PAAP information can be found at http://www.mecas.org/paap/index.html.

NAEP – Grades 4, 8 and 12

In alternating years, NAEP is administrated in reading and mathematics at grades 4 and 8.  According to ESEA regulations, state participation is mandatory.  The testing window is six weeks long (January 28 through March 8, 2013) and is given to a representative sample of students across Maine. The assessment at grades 4 and 8 comprises the NAEP state-level results, and at grade 12, the assessment contributes to the national results.  NAEP measures national achievement in a variety of subject areas, according to the following schedule: http://www.nagb.org/newsroom/assessment-schedule.htm.

MHSA – 3rd year high school students

The MHSA consists of the SAT (critical reading, mathematics and writing) and the state-developed MHSA science assessment for third year high school students. The dates of the MHSA science test administration window are March 25 to April 5, 2013. The SAT testing date is May 4, 2013. More information can be found at http://www.maine.gov/education/mhsa/index.htm.

MEA science – Grades 5 and 8

MEA science assessments will be administered at grades 5 and 8 from May 6 through 17, 2013. Administration information will be posted when available on the web at http://www.maine.gov/education/mea/admininfo.htm.

Student data – Infinite Campus State Edition

The official student data of record for all state assessments, except for accommodations, is supplied directly by local school units to the Infinite Campus State Edition (ICSE) system.  It is essential that schools keep their ICSE data current. To ensure additional accurate student labels for use on the NECAP answer booklets, schools must update and verify student enrollment by end of day on September 27, 2012 by reviewing the report titled “NECAP Label Roster” reports (ICSE/ME State Reporting/Assessment Reports).  Other available reports include: “ACCESS for ELLs ®”and “Maine High School Assessment Students.”

Individual student coding corrections for assessment or AYP reports will not be accepted or made by Maine DOE after published deadlines. Requests for other data adjustments will be handled on a case-by-case basis and will be granted only in exceptional circumstances.

For More Information: Please periodically check the websites included in this letter for updated information. You may also register for the following listservs:

Contact Information

  • MEA/NECAP/PSAT/MHSA/PAAP Policy: (1) Dan Hupp, State Director of Standards and Assessment, at 624-6827 or dan.hupp@maine.gov, or (2) Sue Fossett, Assessment & Accommodations Coordinator, at 624-6774 or susan.fossett@maine.gov.
  • NECAP Administration: Measured Progress at 1-877-632-7774
  • NAEP Administration: Paula Hutton, NAEP State Coordinator, at 624-6636 or paula.hutton@maine.gov.
  • AYP Policy: Rachelle Tome, Director of ESEA Federal Programs, at 624-6705 or rachelle.tome@maine.gov.
  • WIDA ACCESS for ELLs® Policy: Nancy Mullins, ESL/Bilingual Director, at 624-6788 or nancy.mullins@maine.gov.
  • ACCESS for ELLs® Administration and Ordering:  MetriTech at 1-800-747-4868.
  • ICSE: MEDMS Helpdesk at 624-6896 or medms.helpdesk@maine.gov.

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