WBCH offers this space to area school superintendents to highlight activities in their districts. This post is from Michelle Falcon, superintendent of Maple Valley Schools.

 

“Beginning in mid-April, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) will administer the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP). Like last year, the M-STEP will be given online and will measure current student knowledge on Michigan’s standards in English language arts (ELA), mathematics, science, and social studies.

 

“This year, based on feedback from students, parents, and educators, we have made several enhancements to M-STEP:

• The test is now shorter for most students, who will spend no more than 3-6 hours total on 2018 state assessments.

 

• The PSAT is being offered to high school students in grades 9 and 10. The PSAT prepares students for the SAT taken in grade 11.

 

• High school students in grade 11 will take the SAT, which will serve as both a college entrance and the state English language arts (ELA) and mathematics assessment.

 

 

• Schools will have flexibility in scheduling the amount of time students spend in a single test session.

 

• Schools will have access to preliminary student test results within a few days after testing is complete. This preliminary data is a first look for school use only until final results are available.

 

• Final results should be available to schools prior to the beginning of the next school year. This will include M-STEP parent reports to be distributed by districts.

 

“We want your child’s experience to be relaxed, healthy, enjoyable, and stress-free. Your positive outlook and supportive manner going into these assessments will also influence your child’s experience. Content areas tested and grade levels are listed below:

 

Grade	Content Area
Grade 3	Mathematics, English Language Arts (ELA)
Grade 4	ELA, Mathematics
Grade 5	ELA, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science
Grade 6	ELA, Mathematics
Grade 7	ELA, Mathematics
Grade 8	ELA, Mathematics, Social Studies, Science
Grade 11	SAT with essay – Serves as both a college entrance and
	Michigan’s English language arts and mathematics assessment;
	M-STEP science; M-STEP social studies; ACT WorkKeys™

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

M-STEP online tests anytime within a four-week time frame for each grade level. Schools will administer the subject area tests described above during the following windows:

 

Grades 5, 8, 11:	April 10 – May 4
Grades 3,4,6,7:	May 4 – May 25

 

Grades 9, 10 (PSAT):		April 11
Grade 11	(SAT):	April 10
Grade 11	(WorkKeys™):	April 11