State preparing for move to Smarter Balanced assessment in 2014
AUGUSTA – Reading and math scores in grades 3 through 8 are flat, while writing scores increased slightly after a decline the previous year. The scores are from the latest New England Common Assessment Program tests, taken in October 2012.
In reading, 71 percent of students tested were proficient, compared to 72 percent the year before. In math, 62 percent of students scored proficient, to last year’s 63 percent. And in writing, where only grades 5 and 8 are tested, scores have been more volatile – 48 percent in fall 2010, 46 percent in fall 2011, and 51 percent in fall 2012.
“This continues a multi-year flat lining of our math and reading scores,” said Dan Hupp, director of standards and assessment for the Maine Department of Education. “In writing, we are hopeful that it is the start of a trend, but it’s too early to say. The writing portion of our test has always had greater variations from year to year than in the other sections.”
Maine Department of Education officials say the test results are one of multiple measures of performance that are useful in assessing student progress and school performance. The October 2013 administration will be the final NECAP test in all four of the partner states. Maine, along with New Hampshire and Vermont will move to the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC), which measures the Common Core State Standards, in the 2014-15 school year
More information
- NECAP reports for schools, districts, and the state, and a guide to understanding the reports
- SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium
- Common Core State Standards
Schools will receive their NECAP scores in the coming days and the Department will release the statewide scores in February.
Where are the NECAP scores posted by schools for the year 2014? I am interested in the pupil student ratio and the number of students in that school at this time.