Wayland Union Schools scores on Michigan’s spring 2018 statewide assessments show an overall improvement from last year.

Students in grades 3-8 took the M-STEP (Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress), students in grades 9 and 10 took the PSAT (Pre-SAT) and students in grade 11 took the MME (Michigan Merit Exam), which includes the SAT college-readiness exam,  M-STEP in social studies and science, and the  ACT WorkKeys (a work-skills test).

The district also received aggregate scores for all students district-wide.

“Our students’ scores overall show improvement compared to last year’s M-STEP scores,” said Director of Instruction Teresa Fulk. “We’ve been working diligently over the past few years to provide students with the interventions and enrichments necessary to help them attain proficiency and achieve at high levels. We plan to analyze the data from these assessments to see where we are showing success, and where we need to adapt and improve our programs and instruction.”

According to a recent piece in Bridge Magazine, the definition of “proficiency” comes into question on the testing because, “To be proficient at the fourth-grade level, students must answer seventh-grade questions.”

Superintendent Norman Taylor said that this year’s M-STEP featured some modern enhancements, such as scheduling flexibility, shorter test sessions, and computer adaptive assessments that customized the test experience for students. These standards and more dynamic assessments require new levels of effort and skill from the entire district community.

“Across Michigan, districts are working to meet the same high standards as we are,” Superintendent Taylor said. “All of our teachers are working every day to help our students meet and exceed these expectations.”

The M-STEP and MME state assessments serve as sources of information districts to evaluate schools’ overall progress in meeting Michigan’s standards.

“We encourage parents to discuss their children’s scores with their teachers, and partner with them in giving students the tools and support they need to be successful, in and out of school,” Taylor said.

For more information, see the Parent Dashboard for School Transparency, https://www.mischooldata.org/ParentDashboard/ParentDashboardHome.aspx