MCA and assessment updates

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Prepared by Rosemary Heinitz

Mathematics Assessment Specialist, Minnesota Department of Education

As the testing window for the MCA-III Assessments has opened on March 9, we thought we would remind you about some of the resources you should use with your students prior to testing. In addition, the change has prompted some questions about what other tests are required for graduation as well as administered for the first time this school year.

Math MCA and MTAS continue to be required in grades 3-8 and 11 and will be used for state and federal accountability calculations. The MCA is administered online only.

In order to be eligible for a diploma from a Minnesota public high school, all students must fulfill graduation assessment requirements in writing, reading, and mathematics. For information about graduation assessment requirements use the following link:

http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/SchSup/TestAdmin/MNTests/index.html

The MCA-III Tutorials and Item Samplers are available to help prepare students for taking the MCA-III.

http://www.pearsonaccess.com/cs/Satellite?pagename=Pearson/QuickLink/mnPEMItemSampler

Sampler format

Item Samplers are available in both paper and online format. The multiple choice items are the same in both formats. The numeric fill-in items are the same in grades 5-8. The Technology Enhanced (TE) items are only included in the online format.

Functionality

The Item Sampler provides students with the look and feel of the actual test. The items and tools in the sampler function the same as they will on the MCA-III. Audio is available for all students. Students with an IEP that specifies accommodated audio should use the Math MCA Accommodated Text-to-Speech Item Sampler.

Calculators

A calculator is provided as a tool in the item samplers. Samplers in grades 3-5 have a basic calculator, grades 6 and 7 have a scientific calculator, and grades 8 and 11 have a graphing calculator. To help students become familiar with the calculator prior to testing, the calculators can also be accessed on the Pearson Access website.

http://www.pearsonaccess.com/cs/Satellite?pagename=Pearson/QuickLink/mnPEMResource

Students taking the online test in grades 3-8 must use the calculator provided in the test. Online items provide a calculator in sections where students are allowed access to a calculator. When students are required to solve a problem without a calculator, there is no calculator provided in that section of the test.

Materials allowed during testing

A printed formula sheet may be provided for students to use during the online math test. The formula sheets for grades 5-8 and 11 can be downloaded from the Pearson Access website.

During the online math test, students may be provided with scratch paper and plain grid paper.

Teacher Panels

New item review and data review panels for grades 3-8 and 11 are scheduled to meet during the summer. New item review panels take the first look at new items written for the MCA-III assessments at each grade level. Panelists review the items for alignment to Minnesota Academic Standards for Mathematics and offer input on the overall match of the item to item specifications and Minnesota style. Items are then eligible to be field tested. After field testing, the items and their performance data are reviewed by data review panels. Panelists, after receiving training in how to review the psychometric data from the field test, determine if the items can be used on operational tests.

Teacher input is extremely important in the building of assessments. We encourage you to enter your information in our database so you can be considered for participation on a panel. The link to the MDE website is:

http://education.state.mn.us/MDE/EdExc/Testing/RegAdvPanel/index.html