St. Joseph School District officials have long said that Missouri may have one of the toughest state student assessment tests in the nation - the Missouri Assessment Program. Now there's a study to back up that assertion.
The National Center for Education Statistics released a report last week that showed MAP standards in reading and math are among the most rigorous in the nation. Missouri rated second highest of all states in three out of four measured areas in the study.
For Cheri Patterson, associate superintendent, the study is a double-edged sword. On one hand, she likes the fact that Missouri holds its students and teachers to high levels of expectation. What she doesn't like is the fact that Missouri is unfairly judged and compared to other districts that do not have the same level of expectation.
"I want to make sure people understand that no educator in the state of Missouri is saying the test isn't a good one, or we shouldn't be shooting for really high expectations," Ms. Patterson said. "But where we are being compared to other districts, and our funding is tied to those results, that's an issue."
The findings were based on a study, "Mapping State Proficiency Standards onto NAEP Scales: 2005-2007." The study looked at academic proficiency standards by state and compared them by using the National Assessment of Educational Progress as the common yardstick, according to the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Based on this study, Missouri's proficiency standards are:
Second in rigor only to Massachusetts in Grade 4 reading and Grade 4 math.
Second only to South Carolina in Grade 8 reading.
Fourth in the nation in Grade 8 math (behind South Carolina, Massachusetts and Hawaii).
Jim Morris, DESE director of public information, said Missouri's high testing standards have been a source of stress for some educators.
"When we set standards back in 1996, we made a conscious choice at that time to define proficient at a high level. Not just to be at grade level or average or something else, but to make proficient mean high expectations," Mr. Morris said. "The state board of education has chosen to stick with that philosophy ever since."
Mr. Morris said a national project, the Common Core State Standards Initiative, is being developed to coordinate national proficiency standards. According to the initiative's Web site, corestandards.org, the mission is to develop a common core of state standards in English-language arts and math for grades Kindergarten through 12.
That effort is gaining momentum, Mr. Morris said, and Missouri is part of that mission.
"Based on our review of the drafts, we think that Missouri standards and these proposed national standards are pretty close, that we're already pretty well aligned with what's being considered," he said.
He expected there to be an agreement on the initiative by the end of this year or early next year.
Ms. Patterson said she is for a uniform test that actually compares apples to apples. However, she was concerned that a national effort might lead to a loss of state and local district control.
"Right now, the obligation to educate students belongs to the states, and the states - especially the state of Missouri - turn a lot of that responsibility and autonomy over to the local district," she said. "That's a wonderful thing - that you don't have a state government or a national government that doesn't know your students and your community, telling you what you teach, how you should teach and the textbooks you use to teach it."
Alonzo Weston can be reached
at alonzow@npgco.com.
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mm1967 says...
Although some may feel the MAP testing is not fair or however they look at it.I am glad our test is in high standards.We have schools here in St Joseph would have met the standards so until something changes this is what we have and we need to make sure our children are ready for the test at the end of the year and they do well and this is the districts job.My children have done well on this test and I am glad they are doing well but what is the underlying problem.
Remember Mrs patterson said we would not have to worry about NCLB sanctions for our schools not meeting in a few years because all of the schools will not be good.I find that statement from her still apolling and untill they change something they need to make sure our community's children are ready for this test.
If they know we have children who are having prolems throughout the year they need to make sure these children are getting the help they need no matter what the cost is.Teach our children and they will do well on this test.But this year the teachers are overwelmed because of all of the students they have in their classes due to the district incompentcy to see that they have created to many children in the classes.
November 9, 2009 at 6:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
rocketmom says...
What you fail to understand--what most people don't know--is that while the Missouri test (MAP) is a good, rigorous test, the NCLB expectations are totally unrealistic in expecting ALL students, 100%, regardless of circumstance, educational disability or life situations, to score at the highest ranges. This is impossible and unrealistic. This is what Ms. Patterson means when she says that soon all schools in Missouri will fail. It isn't possible to succeed. Soon even some our white, upper-middle class students will fail to meet these expectations.
I have raised 5 children in St. Joseph schools, all of whom did well on the MAP. Except for one year, the year my sister, their favorite aunt, died. My son and one daughter struggled with school that year and their MAP scores dropped. This is not something the school can control, and situations like this WILL happen.
November 9, 2009 at 6:26 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
WhoisJohnGalt says...
Anyone that knows what a Bell Curve is knows that 100% proficiency is impossible.
November 9, 2009 at 6:32 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sense says...
mm - you never miss an opportunity to complain about our schools -
November 9, 2009 at 6:42 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
mm1967 says...
Although it may be impossible to achieve why are we not trying to achieve this when it is a mandate.Until it changes this is what we have and we need to do the best we can to achieve this till it changes.
Sence your opinion but as long as I have children in these schools I will be hard on them.
November 9, 2009 at 7:10 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
suzyQ says...
My problem with the MAP testing is the teachers are under extreme pressure for their class to "perform" for the MAP. All to often, I have seen the basic fundamentals of core subjects fall to the wayside in order to "prepare" for what is on the MAP. They are taught how to answer the questions according to what is on there. My kids have come home telling me that they are skipping Chapters "X and X" in (fill in the blank) subject because that wasn't going to be on the MAP and there wasn't enough time-they needed to get on to whatever chapter covered what was going to be on the MAP. I have had other parents come up to me and express concern that their child is being left behind because of this style teaching. They are missing out on the basics and not all kids can wing it on their own. The teachers are under extreme pressure from administration, but they have to teach what they are told. God forbid a child takes ill during one of these MAP testing periods, for they are met with a cold shoulder when they need to go to the nurse, or kept home. I would hate for MAP to meet H1N1!
I'm not trying to say MAP is bad, but the method being used to achieve the scores we do, is with fault.
November 9, 2009 at 7:31 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
doctor_pepper says...
suzyQ-my thoughts exactly. When teachers start focusing on just performing well on the MAP test, other things fall to the wayside. When teachers are pounding stuff into students heads, the more gifted students get bored. No Child Left Behind means No Child Gets Ahead.
November 9, 2009 at 8:48 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bwheat100 says...
Well said suzyQ! You are absolutely correct. As suzyQ eluded to, teachers have been under heavy scrutiny and pressure to focus on the MAP test since 1997. The MAP (Missouri Assessment Program) was a requirement of the Outstanding Schools Act of 1993. The MAP assessment is designed to focus on how a child thinks, understands and solves a problem. It targets a student's academic performance in meeting the Missouri Show-Me Standards created by Missouri educators in 1996. The problem is, too much emphasis is placed on increasing overall MAP scores and other areas of education are secondary. Don't believe me? Just talk to a teacher. In fact, I would challenge any of you to spend one day shadowing a teacher, including additional time outside the classroom grading papers, preparing lessons & calls to parents about discipline problems.
Missouri MAP test may be the toughest state test in U.S., and it shows. Missouri certainly ranked among the top three, with Massachusetts and South Carolina also positioned to claim the title of most rigorous, based on an analysis by the National Center for Education Statistics. The results confirmed what state educators intended three years ago when the state reorganized its MAP - Missouri Assessment Program - test to be aligned more closely with the National Assessment of Educational Progress, known as the Nation's Report Card. Missouri schools are feeling the strain. Of the more than 2,000 public schools in the state, 64 percent did not make adequate yearly progress - or AYP - in 2009. And 519 of the state's Title I schools have been tagged as being schools in need of improvement. Under federal law, schools receiving federal funds that continue to fall short of AYP begin receiving sanctions after two years. Remedies range from allowing student transfers to requirements that a school restructure or replace its leadership. http://www.kansascity.com/115/story/1...
November 9, 2009 at 9:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
bwheat100 says...
Ms Patterson's comment, "Right now, the obligation to educate students belongs to the states, and the states - especially the state of Missouri - turn a lot of that responsibility and autonomy over to the local district," she said. "That's a wonderful thing - that you don't have a state government or a national government that doesn't know your students and your community, telling you what you teach, how you should teach and the textbooks you use to teach it." is contradictory and confirms exactly what is being said, the SJSD places too much pressure on the teachers to "teach to the test" and God have mercy on their souls if some of the students score low on the MAP...despite the fact these students have been consistently low in all subjects. In reality, the SJSD is "telling you (teachers) what you teach, how you should teach and the textbooks you use to teach it. Let the teachers teach!!! They know their students...give them the flexibility to modify their teaching methods to reach all students rather than focusing on achieving a certain MAP score. The SJSD needs to focus on the SJSD and not how it compares to other districts across the state.
November 9, 2009 at 9:04 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
sense says...
mm - Ms Patterson did not say all are schools will not be good. She said they will all fail to meet NCLP much like many districts across the state because the requirement will be 100% - If your going to posts what someone said, put what they said.
November 9, 2009 at 9:36 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
joz1984 says...
The map test is a good test in that it challenges students to think crittically and write about it vs. Filling in bubbles such as the older pre 1996 MMAT test. This will better prepare children for college where they are expected to crittically analyze situations and solutions not just memorize one word answers and fill in the bubbles.
November 9, 2009 at 10:49 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
joz1984 says...
As for teachers having to skip chapters the map test is focused on what the state requires to be taught in each grade level if the child has the book they could read those chapters themselves on their time and be ahead of other students learning shouldn't stop once school is over.
November 9, 2009 at 10:54 a.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
Orliandor says...
This test is difficult. That is good for Missouri. Until there is a standard test given to all students in the United States, the state tests should be considered invalid as a means for NCLB decisions regarding which schools are sanctioned and which lose funding.
November 9, 2009 at 4:24 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
joz1984 says...
I would agree that sanctions and federal funding shouldn't be determined on a state test since ours is more difficult. A nationwide test in the caliber of our map test would be ideal. Fact is compared to several countries are children are not achieving as well and until we can get our students educated in subjects such as science and math to a higher level this isn't going to change. This will affect many things such as our economy and whether were a nation of the best and brightest that can compete in the industries of the future.
November 9, 2009 at 5:06 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
dillygent1 says...
Just out of curiosity. Without a worldwide standardized test, how can we decide who is doing well and who is not? This is why I object to private schools, who do not have to take the test, proclaiming their vast superiority to the public schools. WHERE IS THE PROOF? Take the test and shut me up! I dare you! I also would request that all schools that are considered superior be put under the same testing restrictions that the public schools are. For the business community... The school district is doing its best to meet a test considered the second most difficult test in the nation. When are YOU going to step up and offer salaries and working conditions worthy of those standards?
November 9, 2009 at 8:41 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
donaldo says...
do home schooled children have to take the test?
November 9, 2009 at 10:32 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )
joz1984 says...
According to missouri dept of education it is not a requirement however a parental request can be made dependent on the district a parent may be required to pay for the test and it must be taken in a school district building
November 9, 2009 at 10:52 p.m. ( permalink | suggest removal )