Opportunity to Participate in Interim Assessment Field Test for K-2 and High School

Michigan schools are invited to register to participate in the Fall 2014 Interim Assessment Field Test (September 15-October 17, 2014). This field test is an important part of a high quality test development process and can be valuable to schools, students and teachers.

Reasons to Participate

• Prior to the state summative assessment to be administered in the spring 2015, participation in the Fall 2014 Field Test provides an opportunity for schools to test bandwidth capacity and to logistically schedule and move students through an online assessment experience. 
• Students would have the benefit of taking an online assessment in a low-stakes situation. The test would offer students a chance to have an online experience and to practice commonly used online assessment tools.
• Teachers who offer the field test assessments will receive an invitation to participate in a focus group that will provide valuable feedback on the interim assessment reporting features.

Districts may have several schools participate in one or more subjects and grade levels. Each participating school must individually register. Content areas to be field tested include:

• English language arts (ELA) and mathematics for grades K, 1, and 2.
• High school science courses (Earth Science, Biology, Chemistry, and Physics)
• High school social studies courses (US History & Geography, World History & Geography, Civics, and Economics).

Technology Considerations: 

• Schools may use Windows or Mac desktops and laptops to administer the field test assessments.
• Additionally, MDE is seeking schools to administer the field tests on devices such as iPads, Chromebooks, and Windows 8 tablets (non-touch). Test window runs from October 20 - November 14, 2014. Additional information on testing with these devices will be provided during the next few weeks. 

Details regarding the minimum requirements for each device type are provided in the Michigan Testing Device Requirements document.

Additional information regarding the Fall 2014 Interim Assessment Field Tests:

• The Michigan interim assessments are only available on-line.
• All interim assessments are aligned to Michigan’s education standards and assess students currently enrolled in the subjects selected.
• If Earth Science high school courses are offered to 8^th grade students, schools may consider offering the Earth Science interim assessment to these 8^th grade students.
• The field test window is September 15, 2014 through October 17, 2014. Schools may administer the field test assessments any time within this five-week test window.

How to Register
To participate in the Fall 2014 Interim Assessment Field Test, please complete the registration survey for each school.


Check out more information about the Michigan Interim Assessments.

Michigan Interim Assessment Pilot – Schools Needed by January 18th

The Michigan Interim Assessment Program is in need of schools to pilot Michigan’s new interim assessments. These assessments will be online, pre-post assessments given at the beginning of a grade/course and end of a grade/course, and may be used as one possible measure of student growth. 

Participation as an interim assessment pilot site will meet the 2012-2013 school year online participation requirement (Category One #4) of the Technology Infrastructure Grant, and provide a low-stakes opportunity to test the school’s connectivity and bandwidth capacity for online testing. The Michigan Interim Assessment Program will offer scheduling flexibility for schools participating in the pilot. 

The first opportunity to experience these new assessments for teachers and students in grades 3 through high school is pilot testing in science and social studies, which will take place in April and May 2013.

Science
Grade 3 – 7 
Grade Level Assessments
Based on Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCEs) High School 
Course-Based Assessments
Based on High School Content Expectations (HSCEs)
• Earth Science
• Biology
• Chemistry
• Physics

Social Studies
Grade 3 – 8
Grade Level Assessments
Based on Grade Level Content Expectations (GLCEs) High School
Course-Based Assessments
Based on High School Content Expectations (HSCEs)
• U.S. History and Geography
• Word History and Geography
• Civics
• Economics

The minimum technology requirements for the online assessments include:
Apple

• MAC OS X® 10.5 – 10.8
• 256 MB of RAM or greater
• 1024x768 or greater screen resolution
• 10 MB hard disk space
• 400 MHz processor

Windows

• Windows XP® or 7
• 256 MB of RAM or greater
• 1024x768 or greater screen resolution
• 100 MB hard disk space
• 700 MHz processor

To participate in the Michigan Interim Assessment pilots, please complete this survey.  Surveys must be completed by Friday, January 18, 2013. 

Districts may have several buildings participate, but each building must register with a separate survey.