State releases Maryland School Assessment (MSA) data

Elementary and middle school students at Charles County Public Schools (CCPS) continue to work toward 2014 goals on the reading and mathematics Maryland School Assessment (MSA). In elementary schools, 86.5 percent of students scored proficient or advanced on the reading MSA and 84.1 percent on the mathematics test. In middle schools, 82.8 percent scored proficient or advanced on the reading MSA and 79.5 percent on the mathematics test.

 

"Thanks to the hard work of our outstanding staff and students, Charles County is making progress, especially in the areas of special education and free and reduced meals (FARMS) subgroups," said Superintendent of Schools James E. Richmond. "We still have a lot of work to do, and the improvement targets continue to get harder to meet as schools reach the 80 and 90 percent levels."

 

The MSA reading composite score at the elementary level has risen 22 percentage points since 2003, when the tests first started. Elementary mathematics proficiency has increased by 19.9 points. Middle school reading proficiency has increased 16.6 percentage points since 2003, while middle school math proficiency has risen 33.4 points.

 

The MSA scores were released as part of the Maryland 2011 Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) report, which uses the assessment data to determine if schools have met federal testing targets. The tests are required by the federal No Child Left Behind Act (NCLB) that charts the progress of the overall student population in the grades tested as well as for students receiving special services and by racial subgroups. Scores are reported for a total of 12 tests, six reading and six math, taken in March by students in grades three through eight. Scores are expressed as the percentage of students who scored at or above the proficiency levels, which were set in 2003. The annual measurable objective (AMO) is the yearly benchmark established by the state for school systems to meet their goals by 2014. If one subgroup in a school does not meet the goal, the entire school does not make AYP.

 

ADEQUATE YEARLY PROGRESS

 

• Overall, 13 of Charles County Public Schools 29 elementary and middle schools met all testing targets and made AYP.
• Schools that did not meet every one of the overall or subgroup targets in mathematics or reading for two or more consecutive years are identified for School Improvement. Schools exit School Improvement if they meet every one of the area and subgroup targets for two consecutive years. Four of 29 CCPS schools have been identified as schools in improvement.
• In CCPS schools, C. Paul Barnhart Elementary School, which is a Title I school, entered school in improvement status and is required to offer school choice to parents. Letters to all Barnhart parents will be sent by July 6 outlining their options for the next school year. Only Title I schools in school improvement are required to offer school choice. There are no CCPS schools in the "priority" stage, which is the most severe level of School Improvement. For more information about Maryland's AYP process, visit http://mdk12.org/assessments/ayp/index.html.
• The targets that all students and subgroups had to meet went up this year, causing more CCPS schools to miss making AYP. Five of the schools that did not make AYP missed making it in only one subgroup.

"Schools face much greater challenges with meeting AYP as targets grow higher. Schools that did not meet AYP are not failing schools, but simply have areas where the teachers, staff and students must put more of a focused effort," said Richmond. "We will work closely and collaboratively with these schools to address these areas in the coming year."

MSA PERFORMANCE

 

Students in the special education subgroup also made significant gains. Highlights include:

• Grade 4 special education reading went from 57.6 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 70.3 percent in 2011.
• Grade 4 special education math went from 59.1 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 65.2 percent in 2011.
• Grade 6 special education reading went from 53.1 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 61.4 percent in 2011
• Grade 6 special education math went from 44.1 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 58.8 percent in 2011.
• Grade 8 special education reading went from 43.9 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 57.4 percent in 2011.
• Grade 8 special education math went from 29.5 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 43.2 percent in 2011.

Students in the free and reduced meals (FARMS) subgroup also made significant gains. Highlights include:

• Grade 4 FARMS reading went from 76.2 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 81.2 percent in 2011.
• Grade 6 FARMS math went from 68 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 74.1 percent in 2011.
• Grade 7 FARMS math went from 54.2 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 68.1 percent in 2011.
• Grade 8 FARMS reading went from 66.4 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 71.9 percent in 2011.
• Grade 8 FARMS math went from 50.4 percent in 2010 proficient and advanced to 60.2 percent in 2011.

State, system and local school data are now available on the Maryland State Department of Education's report card, www.mdreportcard.org. Charles County Public Schools results can also be found at http://www2.ccboe.com/msa/msa.cfm.

In the coming months, the Maryland State Department of Education will release algebra and English II data, High School Assessments, system AYP, attendance and graduation numbers.