Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe MCPS is making high schoolers take these. How do you opt out?

LIke anything at MCPS you complain and complain until they cave to get rid of you.

Seriously. But don’t be surprised if teachers don’t bend over backwards for your child when you’re being a nuisance.

I am certain teachers don't care at all whether a high schooler takes the MAP test, which provides no useful data for high school.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe MCPS is making high schoolers take these. How do you opt out?

LIke anything at MCPS you complain and complain until they cave to get rid of you.

Seriously. But don’t be surprised if teachers don’t bend over backwards for your child when you’re being a nuisance.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ninth grade is the only year MAP tests are given.

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/departments/sharedaccountability/testing/hs_assessmenttimeline.pdf

No. As noted above, BCC, and maybe other high schools, have mandated that all students take MAP tests.
Seniors took exception to this, because in the fall of senior year, there are a lot of moving parts to college applications and the Early Decision or Early Action deadlines come early. BCC then waived the tests for seniors.

Sure, for a 9th grader, they can take the test and it's not too much out of their day. But if you go into 9th grade at an Honors Pre-calc level and previously scored a 288 on your MAP-M like my daughter (and some magnet kids score above a 300), it sure is going to be a waste of time! Same for reading. DD's last score was a 265, or something like that. I agree with PP that above a certain score, regardless of grade, the test should be waived.

Was this in years past, or this current year?

CUrrent year.

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:Ninth grade is the only year MAP tests are given.

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/departments/sharedaccountability/testing/hs_assessmenttimeline.pdf

No. As noted above, BCC, and maybe other high schools, have mandated that all students take MAP tests.
Seniors took exception to this, because in the fall of senior year, there are a lot of moving parts to college applications and the Early Decision or Early Action deadlines come early. BCC then waived the tests for seniors.

Sure, for a 9th grader, they can take the test and it's not too much out of their day. But if you go into 9th grade at an Honors Pre-calc level and previously scored a 288 on your MAP-M like my daughter (and some magnet kids score above a 300), it sure is going to be a waste of time! Same for reading. DD's last score was a 265, or something like that. I agree with PP that above a certain score, regardless of grade, the test should be waived.

Was this in years past, or this current year?

Anonymous wrote:Ninth grade is the only year MAP tests are given.

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/departments/sharedaccountability/testing/hs_assessmenttimeline.pdf

No. As noted above, BCC, and maybe other high schools, have mandated that all students take MAP tests.
Seniors took exception to this, because in the fall of senior year, there are a lot of moving parts to college applications and the Early Decision or Early Action deadlines come early. BCC then waived the tests for seniors.

Sure, for a 9th grader, they can take the test and it's not too much out of their day. But if you go into 9th grade at an Honors Pre-calc level and previously scored a 288 on your MAP-M like my daughter (and some magnet kids score above a 300), it sure is going to be a waste of time! Same for reading. DD's last score was a 265, or something like that. I agree with PP that above a certain score, regardless of grade, the test should be waived.

Anonymous wrote:I get that it is pointless by why make a fuss? Just curious what it hurts to take the test?

Time.
These tests take up huge blocks of time. I loathe how much of the school day these tests take up. I also think MAP information is useless in HS unless you are really behind. I think they should encourage kids who hit a certain level, like 12th grade reading skills, to opt-out.

Ninth grade is the only year MAP tests are given.

https://www2.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/siteassets/district/departments/sharedaccountability/testing/hs_assessmenttimeline.pdf

If you looked a little more closely I’m certain some former MCPS officials are salespeople for MAP testing. It is the soft corruption we’ve come to accept - with the loss of great local journalism it’s easier for cats to play.

I get that it is pointless by why make a fuss? Just curious what it hurts to take the test?

There was a huge to-do on the BCC list-serve about BCC making all high schoolers take the MAP. With some arm-twisting, parents got seniors to be excused if they request it, but I'm sure not everyone got the message.

The Principal explained that MAP is the only standardized test that gives an immediate snapshot of student achievement, and it helps them tweak instruction instantly.

With all due respect, I'm really not sure that it does for the average or high-achieving student, since in high school, a lot of them have moved past the point where MAP measures what they're learning. In theory, I understand teachers could consult their students' MAP scores and review some concepts, but the MAP results don't give teachers specific information on what concepts are missing (just general categories), so it's kind of pointless because the teacher can't really review ALL algebraic formulas, or ALL English grammar, when they also have the year's curriculum to cram through.

I'm sure there are other considerations involved. Maybe they get more funding if the MAPs are really dismal? Are they trying to pin down post-pandemic academic progress for state review?

I don't know if this is MCPS-wide, or just certain high schools.

I would be surprised if MCPS let you opt out of any test, especially now that parents can't even opt out of MCAP despite it being a ridiculous test.

Anonymous wrote:I can't believe MCPS is making high schoolers take these. How do you opt out?

LIke anything at MCPS you complain and complain until they cave to get rid of you.

I can't believe MCPS is making high schoolers take these. How do you opt out?

These tests are pointless in high school. They are not used in any meaningful way to benefit your child. Opting out is a good choice.

Welcoming insights. Also would be grateful for info on how MCPS high schools use MAP testing in support of instruction or anything else specific to individual students. I'm struggling to see why my student should take these tests.