May 6, 2005

LANSING – Improved reading scores highlight the performance of Michigan public elementary and middle school students on the winter 2005 assessments provided by Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP). 

Fourth grade students meeting or exceeding Michigan reading standards increased three percentage points over last year’s results, according to the Michigan Department of Education, and seventh graders meeting or exceeding Michigan reading standards increased 12 percentage points over the previous year.

“I am encouraged by the improvement in reading scores,” said Kathleen N. Straus, President of the State Board of Education.  “ Reading is the foundation of all learning and I look forward to its impact on greater achievement in other curriculum areas.”

Fourth grade writing scores have remained stable for the past three years while in the seventh grade, the percentage of students meeting or exceeding state standards increased six percentage points compared to last year.

Preliminary results released to schools included writing scores showing a decline that was questioned by schools and testing experts.  In response to these concerns, the state’s technical advisory committee of national testing experts reviewed those writing scores, the statistical analyses of those scores, and the test itself.

The committee concluded that the decline reflected an increase in the difficulty of this year's writing test compared to previous years.  The committee ensures that scores for all MEAP tests reflect only changes in students' ability, not changes in the difficulty of the test.  When changes in test scores reflect changes in the test difficulty, the score scale is mathematically adjusted to be comparable to previous years.  This is done whether tests are determined both easier and more difficult than previous years.

This is a standard procedure for test administrators nationally, according to Edward Roeber, Ph.D., Senior Executive Director of the state's Office of Educational Assessment and Accountability.  This procedure assures that from year-to-year, students with the same writing ability receive the same score regardless of the year they were tested, he explained.

“Parents, teachers, and schools can be confident that all MEAP scores released to the public are an accurate and fair evaluation of student achievement,” said Roeber, a nationally-recognized testing expert.  “Statistical and required adjustments needed to be made to the writing test scores to follow national testing protocols to ensure a valid and reliable comparison to scores from previous years.”

Interim State Superintendent of Public Instruction Jeremy Hughes, Ph.D. said the State Board of Education and the Department of Education insist on high academic standards and administering a rigorous test.  “We want to make certain, however, that the test scores can be compared accurately across years,” he said.

Hughes added that the Department continues working toward the goals of Governor Jennifer M. Granholm and the State Board of Education to increase student achievement; prepare all Michigan children for the challenges of the new global economy; and spark the mindset that one’s formal education must continue beyond high school.

“A proven component in that formula is the annual testing of student learning and the public’s reliance that our test scores are accurate and reliable to measure academic progress,” Hughes said.  “We stand solidly behind the accuracy, reliability, and fairness of the MEAP scores.”

Combined English Language Arts (ELA) scores show improved performance at both the fourth and seventh grades.  ELA scores are reported separately for reading and writing, and also as a combined ELA score.

While performance in most other grades and subject areas remained relatively stable over the previous year, the only significant decrease appeared in fifth grade social studies where 26 percent of students met or exceeded standards, down five percentage points from the previous year.

The 2005 winter tests were taken by Michigan ’s fourth, fifth, seventh, and eighth grade students over a three-week period of time in late January through early February.

Fourth graders were tested in math and English Language Arts (reading and writing); seventh graders were tested in English Language Arts; and fifth and eighth graders were tested in science, social studies, and math.

Scores Returned on Timely Basis

Today’s release of the winter MEAP scores is the fourth consecutive testing cycle where results have been released in a timely manner, a marked improvement over the reporting delays experienced two years ago.  Earlier problems have been attributed to issues with a private vendor whose state contract was not renewed.

Summary statewide reports for MEAP testing at all grade levels, as well as individual school building results for public school districts and public school academies are available on the Michigan Department of Education website at www.michigan.gov/mde.

Summary highlights by subject are provided below:

English Language Arts

• English language arts (ELA) scores are reported separately for reading and writing, and also as a combined ELA score.
• Combined ELA scores improved for both fourth and seventh graders from winter 2004 to winter 2005.
• The greatest increase in statewide ELA scores occurred in the area of seventh grade reading, where the percent of students meeting or exceeding Michigan expectations rose 12 percentage points from winter 2004 to winter 2005.
• Fourth grade writing scores have remained stable for three years.
• In the seventh grade, six percent more students met or exceeded Michigan writing expectations this year compared with last year.

Mathematics

• The 2005 fourth grade mathematics scores held constant compared to 2004, with 73 percent of fourth grade students meeting or exceeding the standards both years.
• The 2005 eighth grade mathematics scores changed slightly, with 62 percent students meeting or exceeding the standards compared to 63  percent of eighth graders in 2004.
• There were no significant changes in the performance of demographic subgroups for fourth or eighth graders from 2004 to 2005.

Science

• The percentage of fifth grade students meeting or exceeding Michigan standards increased from 78 percent to 79 percent from last year.
• In eighth grade, the percentage of students meeting or exceeding standards went from 66 percent to 65 percent.
• Only one percent of fifth grade students scored below the basic level,  compared with two percent last year.
• In eighth grade, the percentage of students scoring below the basic level was 10 percent, the same as last year.

Social Studies

• The percentage of fifth grade students meeting or exceeding Michigan standards decreased from 31 percent to 26 percent from last year.
• In eighth grade, the percentage of students meeting or exceeding standards increased from 29 percent to 30 percent.