Michigan's 2014-15 Summative Assessment Update

In June of 2014, legislation was passed requiring the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) to develop a new summative assessment for use in Spring 2014-15. Unlike the previous MEAP assessments, the new assessment will be aligned to Michigan standards and administered in the spring measuring current versus past year student knowledge. 

English language arts and mathematics will be assessed in grades 3-8. Science will assessed in grades 4 and 7, and social studies in grades 5 and 8. This assessment will be administered for one year only online with a paper and pencil option for schools not technology-ready.  For more information click the links below:

• 2014-15 Michigan Statewide Assessment Transition Document
• Spring 2015 Testing Schedule Update 

New legislation also requires the department issue a Request For Proposal by September 1, 2014 for a new summative assessment system to begin in the 2015-16 school year.

To obtain valuable input, this week, the department held a public hearing in Lansing attended by more than 100 educators, associations and parents.

Beyond the hearing, the public can provide input on the 2015-16 state assessment numerous ways which are outlined below -- through Tuesday, August 5.

U.S. Postal Service

Michigan Department of Education

Office of Standards and Assessment

608 West Allegan Street

P.O. Box 30008

Lansing, Michigan 48909

Fax

517-335-1186

Email

2016assessment@michigan.gov

Onlinesurvey/comment form

No Smarter Balanced, now what?

In late June, Michigan’s School Aid budget, set to take effect Oct. 1, was signed that requires a “new MEAP” to be developed and administered for the 2014-15 School Year. There seems to be some confusion with the language included in this budget as it relates to using the same name – MEAP – but meeting our current state standards, which is not something the “old” MEAP did. There have been reports suggesting the state is returning to the old test and that teachers now are rewriting lesson plans in an attempt to be ready for next year’s assessment. Last week, Joseph Martineau, Deputy Director for Accountability Services released a memo to clarify what we now know and how educators should be planning for the 2014-15 school year. The main message: stay the course.