This program consists of three assessments developed for the Mississippi Department of Education; these assessments measure student performance in Algebra I, U. S. History from 1877, and Biology I. 34,479 students were tested in Algebra I during the 1997-98 school year, and 27,738 students took the U. S. History from 1877 test. The Biology I test was piloted in 1996-97 and 35,485 students were tested in the first "live" administration during the 1997-98 school year. Improved student test scores reflect changing instructional strategies designed to make a connection between academic instruction and "real world" activities.

Purpose

• Provide meaningful assessment of secondary academic content tied to the Mississippi curriculum frameworks, revised on an ongoing schedule
• Promote instructional strategies integrating both content and problem solving
• Offer a meaningful tool for accountability of local school districts

• Multi-mode assessment consisting of seventy percent (70%) selected-response (multiple choice) and thirty percent (30%) constructed-response (short answer) questions
• Enhanced multiple choice (selected response) questions require student demonstrations of fundamental knowledge and proficiency in using various types of information
• Constructed-response questions offer opportunities for student demonstration of greater depth of knowledge through written responses to questions

Assessment Administration

• All students enrolled in Algebra I, U.S. History from 1877, and Biology I

Implementation Schedule

• U.S. History from 1877, Algebra I, and Biology I fully implemented during the 1997-98 school year in both fall (4X4 modular schedules) and spring administrations
• Statewide administration for U.S. History from 1877, Algebra I, and Biology I to be conducted December 1-3, 1998 (4X4 modular districts and summer school students) and April 28-30, 1999 (all school districts)

Reporting

• Individual student and parent reports generated indicating number and percent correct
• School, district, and state reports depicting number of items, mean scaled score, mean items correct, and mean percent correct for state, district, and school
• Percent below 25th state percentile provided

Use of Data

• Program data reported in format to be used for promoting classroom instruction focusing on problem-centered strategies in addition to acquisition of content and improvement of professional development offerings to local school districts
• Data to be used as performance indicator for accreditation model

Revised 7/98

---

Return to Main Menu

  Click here to go to District Level Test Scores
  Click here to go to Mississippi Statewide Norm-Referenced and
      Performance Assessment Results
  Click here to go to 1996-97 Subject Area Assessment information