May 7, 2021
Dear HMS Families,
Students in grades 5 through 8 participate in the standardized NWEA-Measure of Academic Progress assessment (MAP) to gauge their academic growth in literacy and math from year to year. The MAP scores are only one source of information about our students’ progress. Daily work, classroom assessments, projects, classroom discussions and conferencing provide a more complete picture.
This year, the Maine Department of Education has selected the MAP assessment as the state’s MEA assessment for Mathematics and English/Language Arts/Literacy. Students in 5th and 8th grade will also participate in the MEA Science assessment at the end of May. The total hours of assessments this spring is considerably less than it has been in the past given that the MAP assessment has been selected as this year’s MEA assessment.
Students will take the MAP assessment in May. We use the scores from the assessment internally. They provide specific evidence of growth and highlight any areas which indicate a need for support. Students in the fully remote model of instruction will also participate in the MAP assessments.
Assessment Schedule5th Grade:
Math 5/17 @ 8:10 - 9:10 and 10:55 - 12:00
Reading 5/18 @ 8:10 - 9:10 and 10:55 - 12:00
MEA Science 5/24 @ TBD
6th Grade:
Math 5/20 @ 8:10 - 9:30 and 10:30 - 11:40
Reading 5/21 @ 8:10 - 9:30 and 10:30 - 11:40
7th Grade:
Math 5/20 @ 9:30-11:15 and 1:25 - 2:00 if additional time is needed
Reading 5/21 @ 9:30-11:15 and 1:25 - 2:00 if additional time is needed
8th Grade:
Math 5/17 @ 8:10-10:45
Reading 5/18 @ 8:10-10:45
MEA Science 5/24 @ TBD
Prior to testing, educators will talk with students in preparation for the assessment to ensure that they are as comfortable as possible with the process and able to put forth their best effort. Teachers meet with students about their growth on these assessments privately; these conversations are focused on goal setting. The results from the MAP assessments will be posted in PowerSchool. We will let you know when you can access this information.
Thank you, as always, for your support with this process.
Molly Kilpatrick and Jay Harrington
5 - 8 Language Arts and Math Lead Teachers
Joan Adler and Tom McDowell
HMS Administrative Team