Is two weeks of MCAP testing really necessary?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Add to the madness that elementary students will see geometry questions on the test (they are on the practice tests) and yet MCPS has removed the geometry units from the Eureka Curriculum. (In 4th grade, geometry is unit 4. This unit is not taught. Similar with 3rd and 5th grades.) MCPS says don’t teach it, and yet students will see geometry questions on MCAP.

I noticed they took the geometry curriculum out of the first grade math as well.

And yet, students will also see geometry questions on the MAP-M (Math) assessment. It's one of the four categories within the assessment.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Blame the No Child Left Behind Act on this one.

But MD still seems to be more testing than elsewhere.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blame the No Child Left Behind Act on this one.

But MD still seems to be more testing than elsewhere.

Exactly there are less painful alternatives. The state could even choose to accept the testing the county does as an alternative.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I agree. MCAPs are a huge time waster. MAPs are useful.

MCAP is a waste of time and the data it provides is useless. It’s not only a time suck, it’s also a resource suck because extra teachers and paras are needed to help administer the assessment across multiple classes and grade levels. Those resources would be better used working with students.

One thing MAP does is show gains but you can’t use it to measure achievement on what was taught because it doesn’t align with the curriculum. It’s also one snapshot. Some kids get “click” happy and just click on answers to finish early. Just a snapshot so when evaluating a student’s instructional goals or achievement we can’t put too much value in it.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Add to the madness that elementary students will see geometry questions on the test (they are on the practice tests) and yet MCPS has removed the geometry units from the Eureka Curriculum. (In 4th grade, geometry is unit 4. This unit is not taught. Similar with 3rd and 5th grades.) MCPS says don’t teach it, and yet students will see geometry questions on MCAP.

Our school covered this. Are you sure?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Blame the No Child Left Behind Act on this one.

But MD still seems to be more testing than elsewhere.

Exactly there are less painful alternatives. The state could even choose to accept the testing the county does as an alternative.

I'm not sure that's true. I'm not an educational policy expert, so if you are speaking from a place of professional knowledge, please let us know. However, NCLB puts pretty specific mandates on states to test in specific subjects in specific grades.

Are you saying (again, from a place of expertise) that Maryland could choose to swap MAP for MCAP and still meet the structures of NCLB?