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Michigan students raise scores on merit exams; DetNews-July 23, 2010
Topic Started: Jul 27 2010, 12:56 AM (402 Views)
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Michigan students raise scores on merit exams
State officials credit tougher curriculum for improvement
Marisa Schultz and Ron French / The Detroit News

The more than 110,000 Michigan high school juniors who agonized for three days over the Michigan Merit Exam in the spring posted the best scores yet on the standardized test in four subjects.

This class marks the first required by law to complete tougher high school graduation requirements. And state officials believe their exposure to a more rigorous curriculum -- including four credits of math -- led to the high marks on the high-stakes test. "These test scores show student performance is improving, which is the best proof that the more rigorous curriculum is working," Gov. Jennifer Granholm said in a statement.

The percentage of Michigan students scoring as proficient or advanced was the highest level ever in four subjects: math, science, reading and writing. Nearly two-thirds of juniors passed reading, up from 60 percent last year. The only subject where the class of 2011 didn't post record numbers was social science, where scores fell to 79 percent from a high of 83 percent in 2007.

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Michigan juniors have been tested on the MME, which includes the ACT college entrance exam, since 2007. Students may get, at no cost, reportable ACT scores needed for admission to most colleges and universities.

For the third straight year, the average composite ACT rose, from 19 last year to 19.3 this year.

"I really believe the higher standards are making a difference," said Paula Wood, dean of the College of Education at Wayne State University. "Because (the rigorous courses) are required of everybody, the districts I see are adapting how they teach now that they need to reach a wider range of students. ... Even though the gains aren't large, I think they are very encouraging."

Three-quarters of the districts in Metro Detroit made gains or remained stable on the ACT composite scores. Flat Rock juniors, for example, improved their ACT scores by more than 9 percent, the largest gain in Metro Detroit.

"We've been working hard on that," said Russell Pickell, superintendent of Flat Rock Community Schools. "We've focused on professional development, on differentiating instruction to reach more than one kind of learner at one time."

'Time to adapt'
Increasing core requirements "wasn't a popular decision at the time," Pickell said. "But for the districts that took the challenge seriously, there should be improvements across the board."

In Holly, ACT scores jumped 5.1 percent to 20.8. "It reinforces that Holly is an excellent school district with excellent teachers," said Noni Miller, assistant superintendent for curriculum at Holly Community Schools. "There has been a concerted effort."

Dearborn Public Schools' scores rose from below the state average last year, at 18.4, to 19.4. Anchor Bay in Macomb County went from 19 to 19.7 and Pinckney in Livingston County jumped from 20 to 20.5

"Schools have had four years now to align their curriculum to help kids score well on this rigorous college entrance exam," said Brighton Superintendent Gregory Gray, whose district posted an ACT composite increase from 21.4 to 21.8. "We've been given time to adapt."

The gains, however, were not enough to bring many Metro Detroit school districts to the state average. Forty-nine of the 88 public districts in Wayne, Oakland, Macomb and Livingston counties posted scores below the state average of 19.3 on the ACT. That's 56 percent of Metro Detroit districts scoring below the average score that juniors posted statewide.

Districts that saw declines in ACT test scores included River Rouge, where scores fell to 13.4 from 14.9. Scores also dipped for Lakeview and Hazel Park juniors.

DPS dips
Detroit Public Schools' scores dropped in all subject areas except reading. Less than 16 percent of DPS juniors scored proficient or higher in math, compared to 50 percent statewide.

"Our students are still well below state and national averages, which is a serious concern and one of the reasons why we are implementing a rigorous academic plan," said DPS spokeswoman Jennifer Mrozowski. The plan calls for all students passing the MME and a district-wide ACT average of 22.2 by 2015. To get there, DPS is boosting instructional time in reading and math, adding more foreign language and Advanced Placement classes and increased extended day programs, she said.

Four years ago, the state adopted a college-prep curriculum for high school students. Starting with the class of 2011, the requirements for graduation include four credits each of math and English language arts; three credits each of science and social studies and one online course.

While encouraged by the high scores, Mike Flanagan, the state superintendent of public instruction, said the younger students will benefit even more as Michigan continues to ratchet up its college and career standards.

"We were confident that when all students were taught the rigorous subject content, like Algebra II and chemistry, they would be able to learn the basic concepts, if not more," Flanagan said in a statement. "This is a very positive trend and shows hope for the future."

Added Pickell: "I always ask parents, 'Do you want us to educate your children for their future or your past?' The world is so much more competitive. The stakes are higher. Everyone wants their child to be successful, and that means there is a lot of work done."

mschultz@detnews.com (313) 222-2310



From The Detroit News: http://detnews.com/article/20100723/SCHOOLS/7230392/1026/rss06#ixzz0ur6SaRJj
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Scores improve on most Michigan high school tests
Published: Thursday, July 22, 2010, 1:05 PM
Updated: Thursday, July 22, 2010, 2:14 PM

LANSING -- Michigan high school students have improved their scores in most subjects on the state's main standardized test.

Michigan education officials say Thursday that statewide scores for public school students improved in math, science, reading and writing compared to a year ago. Scores dipped in social studies.

The test known as the Michigan Merit Exam was taken primarily by high school juniors last spring.

The test includes a version of the ACT college entrance exam. Students had an average score of 19.3 on the ACT, up from 19 in 2009.

There is plenty of room for improvement on the tests. Half the students taking the math test scored proficient or above. Forty-four percent were proficient or better in writing.



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While individual student scores are protected by the Federal Educational Rights and Privacy Act (FERPA), summary data about an entire school or district are available to the public at michigan.gov/mme.

From there, click on "MME Test Results" on the left side of the screen. Documents available online for the Spring 2010 MME are Demographic Reports, Frequently Asked Questions, a School and District Data File, School and District Summary Reports, and Statewide Results.

http://www.mlive.com/education/index.ssf/2010/07/scores_improve_on_most_michiga.html
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