M-Step update from MEMPSA

1.  “We are in the final weeks before the first MSTEP administration.  Our goals is to have a clean assessment for as many students as possible, with as many students online as possible. We appreciate the 82% of districts who are ready to go online–but also appreciate the districts who decided that they were not adequately prepared and chose to be online.

2.  For those who are going online–we acknowledge that it’s scary and that there are a lot of unknowns, and that although we are optimistic and preparing in every way possible, we don’t go online as a state until we go online as a state.  We have to rip the bandaid off (so to speak) and try it and then have an ongoing dialogue about where it’s going well and where it’s not, and also, problem solve with schools and districts.

3.  We want to try to hold schools/districts “harmless” to the greatest extent possible.  This means no high stakes decisions from these test data, limiting public reporting to the extent we are able, and turning data back to schools and districts for informational purposes.

4.  Accountability: we will not be naming priority, focus or reward schools this year, and we are hoping to not name again until 2017–getting us two years of data from a stable assessment, and also putting us on a multi-year cohort cycle.

5.  I truly encourage people to contact me directly if they have questions or issues leading up to MSTEP or during administration.  My email is keeslerv@michigan.gov.  MDE will problem solve with districts and schools.

In addition, you can click here to download a short presentation M-Step highlighting the M-STEP transition. It may be helpful when sharing information with parents and other stakeholders.