explore

I recently had the opportunity to do a presentation to our school board about the planning and implementation of the EXPLORE test at Kingsford Middle School. I was also able to explain the benefits of the test for our district and the individual student results. The response that Mr. Ballard sent to the MDE regarding EXPLORE for all in Michigan, which is posted on the MASSP website, was an excellent resource for this presentation. There was clear, concise information that was very valuable and easily understood when I highlighted the key points to our school board. Having access to communications like this, is an added value of being an MASSP member and something that will allow us all to be more informed, better principals.

November 10, 2009

Dr. Joseph Martineau
Michigan Department of Education

Joseph,

Thank you for your response about MASSP’s effort to have in place, in every middle school, an assessment system that puts students on track to be college and workforce ready. We believe, in addition to using the college and workforce ready assessments that are the bulk of our Michigan Merit Exam, students and their instructors need a compatible assessment that shows where the student stands as they enter high school, adds to the counseling process begun by the education development planning process, and points the student and their parent to the preparedness the State of Michigan now expects of its high school students.

Time for a pause

I remember an article I wrote at the end of my year as president of our association. It was about those few minutes between the end of one school year and the start of the next. It’s that time when you say good-bye to the students and teachers leaving for their summer break, and that awaiting meeting to discuss next year issues. There is that minute or two, without pressure to “get it done” that you get to reflect on the past year.

Well, this is my pause.

Last spring MASSP members were asked, "If you were King/Queen for a day, what would you do with the MME and MEAP?" This information was shared with Senators Swialski and Jelinek. They must have been impressed by what they learned. There is a significant section in the Senate version of the School Aid Act dealing with assessment.

MASSP members took action last week explaining to legislators why EXPLORE is important for all students entering high school. Their work was successful!

The Senate embraced member support with the following in the Senate version of HB 4447:

"MEAP and Merit Exam Changes. The Senate added language prohibiting exam funding to be spent on an expanded social studies exam, pattern scoring, or any assessments developed by the Department for the purposes of Sections 1278a and 1278b of the Revised School Code. Intent language also was added that the Department replace its current MEAP for grades 3-8 with the Iowa Test or a similar exam, and the allocation was included for the "Explore" exam in grades 8 or 9. (Sec. 104 and 104b))"

A Collaborative Story
by Summer Retreat Participants*

Thirty-two educators, representing both the middle level and high school, met during the Summer Retreat to review the report The Forgotten Middle and offer their response to the ACT research study. During the lively discussion, the participants reviewed the Executive Summary and offered their own thoughts about the report findings.

Major Finding of the Unforgotten Middle Study

The letter below was sent to the Michigan Legislature on June 17, 2009. In addition to the letter a fact sheet was enclosed (click here to download the fact sheet (DOC). The association notified association members of an ACTION ELERT on June 16th. Members were given sample letters and asked to send to their legislators.

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Dear Senator

We must do everything in our power to help Michigan students succeed in the real world.

MASSP members clearly support an early warning system.

It is necessary for high schools to know that students are prepared to tackle high school curriculum when they walk through the doors. Or, if a student isn’t ready, where is he/she in need of intervention? And in what classes should he/she be placed for maximum benefit? Parents and children deserve information that shows whether or not a child’s dreams and aspirations match his/her skill level. Today, 60% of our students have this information when they arrive on the doorstep of high school. However, every Michigan student deserves this data.

Principals need to take action! We must fight to get this critical resource available for ALL!

By Jim Ballard
MASSP Executive Director

The association in its efforts to get support for universal use of EXPLORE is getting slimed by the Economic Educators with backdoor help from the Department of Education. After reading their appeal to stop MASSP's effort to shift funding from the 9th grade social studies test to EXPLORE you'd think that our executive director was in competition for the "meanest person in the world" award.

Here's what they had to say about our effort:

Members of the MCEE Board of Directors: