Mississippi
Department of Education 1999 Annual Report
The Mississippi Assessment System
Functional Literacy Examination Component
Overview
The FLE is the minimum competency test
required to receive a Mississippi high school diploma. It is initially
given in the 11th grade with repeat testing in the 11th and 12th grades
for those not passing. The test includes multiple choice questions in reading,
mathematics and written communications along with a direct writing prompt.
In the 1997-1998 school year the primary administration of the FLE (the
administration including all first-time takers) was changed from spring
to fall. Data on year-to-year trends in performance are therefore not available
for this year but will be reestablished when fall 1998 FLE scores are compared
to the fall 1997 "baseline."
Purpose
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To comply with MS Code 37-16-7 to ensure mastery
of minimum competency performance standards in reading, mathematics, and
written communication skills
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Is a prerequisite for high school graduation
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Is an accountability measure for local school
district performance
Type of Assessment
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A criterion-referenced assessment based on
core objectives from the high school curriculum structure in the areas
of reading, mathematics, and written communication
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An assessment developed by Mississippi teachers
who wrote test items, served on test item review committees to monitor
the quality of test items used for test development, and screened test
items for compliance with established MDE/OSA item bias criteria
Assessment Administration
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The primary administration is given in the
fall of the junior year
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Retests are given in the spring following
each fall administration
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Pupils retake only those tests not passed
Reporting
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District and School Summary Reports provide
comparison data for the state, the district, and schools within the district
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School Performance Reports provide data for
instructional decision-making purposes
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Pupil Reports provide individual pupil performance
in the areas of reading, mathematics, and written composition
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Parent Reports provide individual pupil performance
and list the description of skills, the number of items answered correctly,
the number of items measuring a skill, and interpretative information
Use of Data
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Assists in the identification of educational
needs at the district and school levels to ensure that all pupils possess
minimum competencies in reading, mathematics, and written communication
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Identifies individual educational needs of
pupils
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Verifies compliance with requirement for the
standard high school diploma
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Required as an accountability measure for
the performance-based accreditation system
Revised 7/15/98
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