Vol. 41, No. 4
January 19, 2007
CONTACT: JIM MORRIS |
State Board of Education Will Consider Plan to
Require End-of-Course Tests in High School
State education officials are working on a plan to replace the current “MAP” tests in high school (grades 10 and 11) with a slate of at least four “end-of-course” exams.
The State Board of Education could decide as early as next month to move forward with developing the specifics of a new testing policy. If the board approves, new high school tests could be ready for use during the 2008-09 school year. The plan would not affect the MAP exams that are now required of all students in grades 3-8.
For more than two years, state and local school officials have been discussing possible alternatives to the Missouri Assessment Program (MAP) tests that are now used in all public high schools. A statewide advisory committee appointed in 2004 by Commissioner of Education D. Kent King recommended that Missouri require and pay for a college-entry exam (such as the ACT) for all students, in lieu of the MAP tests.
While that proposal was favored by many in the education community, it was strongly opposed by some, and the idea was never endorsed by the State Board of Education.
In recent months, the concept of end-of-course tests – state-approved “final exams” for selected classes – has gained increasing favor with state officials. The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education is preparing a formal recommendation about high school assessment for the State Board of Education to consider in February.
“End-of-course exams are now being used by several states. They can satisfy federal and state accountability requirements. They are flexible and provide a tool for the state to define academic expectations, both for students and teachers,” said Stan Johnson, assistant commissioner of the state education department.
“One of the major advantages of an end-of-course exam is that the score could be used in determining a student’s final grade. The greatest criticism of the MAP exams has been that they do not have any consequences for students. With end-of-course tests, we believe that scores could be returned to the school before the end of the class. This would help address concerns about student motivation,” he said.
Under an outline presented to the State Board of Education last week, the state would require all students to take a final exam in four classes: algebra I, English II, biology and government. It is possible that more tests would have to be included to satisfy federal accountability standards.
Scores from the subject-area exams would be used for state accreditation purposes and federal accountability requirements.
Beginning next year (2008), federal law requires that Missouri’s testing program in high school cover communication arts, math and science. Currently, the state only provides funding for the communication arts and math tests. A new MAP science test is being developed for use in grade 11 in the spring of 2008.
If a new high school testing program is adopted, state education officials hope to include a mandatory test in the area of government and civics. It would replace the MAP social studies exam which is now voluntary.
“We would like to get history and government back onto the testing agenda for all Missouri students. This is a basic part of the curriculum and should be covered by a state test,” Johnson said.
DESE officials also are considering the development of other end-of-course tests for use by school districts. In mathematics, for example, optional tests could be provided in algebra II and geometry.
This option would enable school districts to clarify academic expectations for teachers, students and parents. It also would create opportunities for colleges and universities to recognize certain high school courses for admissions and scholarship purposes.