The testing season is wrapping up for Missouri public school students taking new exams required by the state.
The first-time administration of computer-based tests for grades 3-8 has reportedly went smoothly with only a few minor issues.
The new Common Core-based tests and technology changes had the potential for technical glitches. Other states such as Nevada, Montana and North Dakota experienced issues that disrupted testing. The Nevada education department was doubtful it would be able to complete all of the required testing.
In Missouri, more than 2.2 million testing sessions have been completed since the assessment window opened on March 30, according to the state Department of Elementary and Secondary Education. That number accounts for about 93 percent of all expected sessions for the Missouri Assessment Program, or MAP.
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This year’s assessments contain several new features including higher expectations in math and English language arts, as well as new computerized assessments for grades 3-8.
The new standardized test changed the way students take the exam, the content used to measure their knowledge and how state education officials checked for cheating. The online exams are based on higher expectations in math and English language arts. The are interactive and allow students to use tools to solve problems. To be ready, many school districts upgraded their technology systems and some had to shuffle computers from building to building.
The new tests taken on the computer were supposed to be adaptive, meaning the questions would change to a different degree of difficulty based on a student’s answer. This would help parents and teachers better identify their ability level. But because of a late delivery of files from one of the testing vendors, state officials were worried about the quality and decided to forgo the adaptive test this year.
Missouri students took the exam developed by Smarter Balanced. Illinois is a part of the group of states that is using the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC. Both are designed to be aligned to the Common Core, which are standards students in each grade should meet in reading and math.
