State Assessments

The ESSA Data Dashboard provides public access to student performance data on Maine Educational Assessments (MEA’s).

Our goal is for every student to engage in these assessments and put forth their best effort. While it is true that state and federal laws require that we test all students in grades 3-8, and those in their third year of high school, for us it means more. The results of these tests help us to inform our programming for students and they serve as one of the many ways that we are accountable to our community. Having all students complete the assessment ensures that we are in compliance with our use of federal Title IA funds, money we use to support at-risk learners. For more information on why participation matters see: https://www.maine.gov/doe/sites/maine.gov.doe/files/inline-files/MEAs%20-%20Why%20Participation%20Matters.pdf

Each Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) content area assessment must have an equivalent alternative assessment (for students with documented significant disabilities).

The Maine Department of Education is required by Maine Statutes 20-A, Section 6209, and by the federal https://www.ed.gov/laws-and-policy/laws-preschool-grade-12-education/esea/standards-and-assessments to assess all students in grades 3-8 and at one point in high school in the content areas of mathematics and English language arts (ELA)/literacy.

Individual results are provided in report cards at the end of the first trimester for the previous year’s testing.

Both Maine State Statute and federal law require that “each student must be assessed by means of a statewide assessment.” Additional legal information regarding “opting-out” with citations in the respective federal and state laws can be found here. If you have concerns about your child’s participation in the assessment, please contact your child’s principal.

RSU 68 utilizes all assessment data to help inform our practices at the district, school, classroom and individual levels for our students. Although we encourage students and parents to participate fully in our assessment program, it is important to note that parents/guardians may opt their child out of state testing. If you are interested in doing so, please also reach out to your child’s principal to make this request in writing.

On December 10, 2015, the Every Student Succeeds Act of 2015 (ESSA) was signed into law. Section 1112(e)(2) of ESSA states that parents of students in Title I schools have a right to know about state or local policies regarding student participation in any assessments mandated by ESSA or any local assessments, including any policy, procedure, or parental right to opt students out of such assessments. If you would like to receive information about this topic, please contact your child’s principal.

Sample test items are available https://www.maine.gov/doe/Testing_Accountability/MECAS/NWEA.

The assessment will be online.

You can find the Maine Assessment Calendar at https://www.maine.gov/doe/Testing_Accountability/MECAS/calendar. Your child’s school will schedule testing within that window and will inform you of those plans.

RSU 68 uses the Northwest Evaluation Association (NWEA) for a local assessment. Students are assessed in the fall and spring using a computerized adaptive test; the difficulty of each question is based on how well a student answers all the previous questions. If a student answers correctly, questions become more difficult. If a student answers incorrectly, the questions become easier. The final score is an estimate of the student’s achievement level. Each assessment is one (1) hour long. Results are received as soon as the assessment is completed. Writing prompts are scored twice and students are able to set writing goals using the rubric scores.

Results are shared during fall and spring parent/teacher conferences. If a parent does not attend the conference, scores are then sent home with students. The parent sheet for NWEA and a copy of the writing prompt and rubric will be sent home.