By Jeff Salisbury jeffsalisbury@charter.net

“If it wasn’t for all the confusion there’d be no fusion at all.”

MEAP, MME, M-Step, PSAT, SAT

According to a press release from the Michigan Association of Secondary School Principals, the Michigan Department of Education (MDE) announced this week that starting next school year (2015-16), the state assessment system will expand to include PSAT testing for all ninth- and tenth-graders. State law requires annual testing for all ninth- and tenth-graders beginning next year, but the MDE will use the PSAT to fulfill that requirement rather than expand M-STEP.

The Preliminary SAT/National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (PSAT/NMSQT) is a standardized test administered by the College Board and c-osponsored by the National Merit Scholarship Corporation (NMSC) in the United States. Approximately 3.5 million students take the PSAT/NMSQT each year. In 2013, 1.59 million high school sophomores and 1.55 million high school juniors took the PSAT. Younger students are also eligible to take the test. The scores from the PSAT/NMSQT are used to determine eligibility and qualification for the National Merit Scholarship Program. (Wikipedia)

The reason is $. The SAT contract reportedly was $17 million over three years AND it cost $15 million less than the ACT over the same contract length. Now, I am no mathematician, but the state has spent (since the 100 percent mandate went into effect) tens of millions of dollars for a private contract to measure results that have not changed one iota in the last two decades.

The PSAT (=boon) and SAT (=doggle) being mandatory for 100 percent of all students, while it does provide some level of continuity is still nothing more than a huge windfall for a private company. Making both optional — since they are not diagnostic-prescriptive assessments except to the extent that the former has predictive qualities for the latter — would make some sense for the college-bound only.

The Michigan Merit Curriculum, along with the 100 percent mandate, has had no statistically significant positive impact on ACT scores.

With the exception of certain targeted populations (which we all can agree ought to be addressed — rural and urban poor) turns out the data demonstrates very clearly that the readiness of Michigan’s high school students (those who successfully completed a so-called “college prep curriculum”) was NEVER in doubt. Never. The composite ACT scores, when reviewed over the past 20 years, clearly demonstrate that to be so.

ACT Average Composite Score By Year (Michigan)
2014 – 20.1
2013 -19.9
2012 – 20.1
2011 – 20.0
2010 – 19.7
2009 – 19.6
2008 – 19.6
2007 – 21.5 (the last year before 100% mandate – about 70% of reported “college-bound students” took the test. The composite stands as the record high for the state.)
2006 – 21.5 (67% of students took the test)
2005 – 21.4 (69% of students took the test)

http://www.act.org/newsroom/data/2004/states.html — just keep typing in a new year and hit enter. What should educators and parents make of this consistency?

What would you say has been the effect of the implementation of the Michigan Merit Curriculum (2006) on ACT scores?

What would you say has been the effect of the requirement (2008) of having 100 percent of students (college bound and non-college bound) on ACT scores?

The evidence demonstrates to me is that spending so much money on raising standards in order to increase college readiness for those who were already college-ready was statistically pointless and the money might have been better spent targeting certain disadvantaged student populations as well as (I would argue) identifying and fostering career interests, including those requiring post-secondary training and/or education.

As always, when you can, please attend a school board meeting!

Wayland Union Schools – Board of Education Regular Business Meetings, Work Sessions, Committee Meetings

• June 8, 6:00 p.m. – Athletic Committee @ Middle School
• June 8, 7:00 pm – Wayland Union Middle School, 701 Wildcat Drive
• June 22 6:45 p.m.- Administration Building, 850 E. Superior (Annual Budget Hearing)

• June 22, 7:00 p.m. – Administration Building, 850 E. Superior
• July 13, 2015 7:00 pm – Administration Building, 850 E. Superior

During the PUBLIC COMMENTS, tell Board members to:

1. Question Every Aspect of the District’s Essential and Non-Essential Educational Programming and Personnel Expenditures (Needs versus Wants)
2.  Set General Fund & Casino Revenue Spending Guidelines
3. Track and Trim All Expenditures & Make Targeted Programs & Personnel Cuts As Needed

REMIND THE BOARD TO:

1. “Build ONE Budget” – combine general fund revenue (local, state and federal dollars) and Gun Lake Casino “in lieu of taxes” revenue.
2. “Pay Yourselves First” – restore the fund equity – which dipped from 15% to 7% in four years – by committing to saving 1% to 1.5% per year for AT LEAST the next 5 years.
3. “No More Loans” – resist the temptation to borrow more money on top of the $291,000 annual loan payments to United Bank for the science wing from 2015 to 2025… no loans for iPads, no loans for school buses – no more loans PERIOD.

BOARD MEMBERS CONTACT INFORMATION:

1. Nancy Thelen, President, Email: nancyboe@waylandunion.net  Phone: 616-877-3098
2. Tom Salingue, Vice-President, Email: tomboe@waylandunion.net Phone: 269-792-2061
3. Toni Ordway, Treasurer, Email: ordwayt@waylandunion.net Phone: 269-910-3297
4. Theresa Dobry, Secretary, Email: theresaboe@waylandunion.net Phone: 616-681-2119
5. Janel Hott, Trustee,   Email: hottj@waylandunion.net Phone: (h) 269-792-0297  (c) 269-250-0286
6. Gary Wood, Trustee,  Email: glw_boe@yahoo.com Phone: 616-681-2120
7. Pete Zondervan, Trustee, Email: zondervanp@waylandunion.net Phone: 616-450-1468