Fall MCAP test results released; Preparing for spring assessments

The Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP) “is the overarching term used for all state assessments” according to the Maryland State Department of Education. 

     In the early fall, a flyer sent home to parents from the Maryland School Board, states the “English Language Arts/Literacy (ELA/L), Mathematics, and Science (Maryland Integrated Science AssessmentMISA), as well as the Alternate Assessments in ELA, Mathematics and Science, and the Kindergarten Readiness Assessment (KRA)” were all taken. 

     The tests are “a federal mandate that states assess students in certain academic areas,” Mr. Matthew Johnstone, guidance counselor states.

    According to English teacher Ms. Carla Harward, “The desired outcome from the Maryland State Board of Education is that these tests show that students are college and career ready.”

     Due to COVID shorter versions of the tests were taken, and the assessments measure how well students performed in the content that was covered in the 2020-2021 school year. 

     The tests that the students took were based on which courses they were enrolled in during the spring of the 2020-2021 school year, when the tests were postponed.       

     Johnstone comments, “Assessments cover what is learned in the class that year so testing this spring will hopefully be better for students.”

     In the spring Johnstone says, “the tests given will be LS MISA (biology, government, English 10, and math (all 9th and 10th and some 11th),” and while the students are the ones taking the test, teachers help students prepare as well. 

     English teacher Mr. Micheal James comments, “I think a lot of it comes down to the student, if the students do not quite understand that the test is important, some are going to give it their best just because they always give their best, and some may not.” 

     “Students can prepare by doing the best they can in the class, following the teacher reviews, and completing practice questions and tests” comments guidance counselor.

    James also says that he gives out “practice tests” to help students prepare. Ms. Jennifer Chandler, English teacher, also comments that ”preparation is continuous. The county curriculum allows for work done all year to mirror the kind of thinking and questions that students might face on these kinds of tests.”

     James also states that “I focus on the foundational pieces that I know [the students] will be tested on, and then about a month or two before the test we start practicing test questions.” He also states that he prepares his students “to tell the difference between the right answer and the almost right answer.”

     James feels that the most important thing to do to help students “[is that it all] comes down to giving [the students] the confidence, reminding them to take the time, a lot of it is test taking strategies.”  Harward and Chandler agree.  “Taking the time to address HOW to read questions well, or what kind of tricks might be helpful often make test anxiety less for some students,” said Chandler