Maryland: Achievement Matters Most
Maryland has developed a Voluntary State Curriculum.
What is a curriculum?
A curriculum is a document that describes what students should learn in each subject and grade. It guides teachers in planning their lessons and is an important part of improving instruction. Traditionally, each of Maryland’s 24 local school systems developed its own curriculum based on the state’s broad standards for student learning in elementary, middle, and high school.
Why create a state curriculum?
There are differences among school systems in what is taught and when it is taught. To help teachers understand what should be taught, Maryland developed a Voluntary State Curriculum for each grade that is clear and
detailed. Local school systems can either adopt the Voluntary State Curriculum or simply make sure that it is included within the local school system curriculum.
What does the state curriculum mean for children?
It means that no matter where your children attend school, they will be held to high expectations and will learn the same challenging skills as other students around the state. The Voluntary State Curriculum also will help reduce the time students spend repeating and reviewing skills each school year, allowing teachers to spend more time on building new skills. Lastly, the Voluntary State Curriculum will help teachers understand the skills that students must master to be successful on state tests. You can feel confident about the quality of the Voluntary State Curriculum knowing that it was developed by experienced Maryland teachers and other educators using national curriculum standards.
Where can I see a copy of the state curriculum?
Maryland’s Voluntary State Curriculum is published on the Web at www.MarylandPublicSchools.org. Just click on the Instruction menu at the top of the home page. For a printed copy of the curriculum, contact your child’s principal.
Schools give tests so that they know how well students are learning. Test scores help principals and teachers improve instruction and plan school programs. Individual test scores help teachers and parents understand a student’s academic strengths and weaknesses. Your child’s school will let you know what tests he or she will be taking. Maryland has two statewide testing programs, the Maryland School Assessment and the Maryland High School Assessments.
What is the Maryland School Assessment?
The Maryland School Assessment (MSA) is a test of reading and math achievement. The MSA will also test science achievement as early as 2008. The MSA meets the testing requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
It measures basic as well as higher level skills. Students take the tests for approximately 90 minutes each day.
There are four days of testing––two days for reading and two days for math. The test includes multiple-choice questions and questions requiring written responses. Sample test questions are shown on pages 8-11. More questions are available on the Web at www.MarylandPublicSchools.org. Just click on the Testing menu at the top of the home page.
Measuring Progress
A Parent's Guide to Achievement Matters Most
When do students take the MSA?
The test is given each year in March in reading and math at grades 3 through 8. As early as March 2008, science will be added in grades 3, 5, and 8.
Will I receive MSA scores for my child?
Yes. You will receive the scores from your local school system. The scores will show how well your child learned the subject matter and how your child performed compared to other children nationally. The score report will also
show school, school system, and state performance on the tests. Scores are reported in terms of basic, proficient, and advanced performance. Maryland’s goal is for students to perform at the proficient or advanced level. MSA scores alone provide only a partial picture of your child’s academic performance. But together with your child’s classwork, homework, and other test scores, MSA results will give you a better understanding of your child’s
performance.
What are the Maryland High School Assessments (HSA)?
The HSA are tests that students must pass before they can earn a Maryland High School Diploma. The tests ensure that graduates have mastered the basic skills they need to succeed in life after high school, whether that be in the workforce, job training, or college. There are HSA tests in English 2, algebra/data analysis, biology, and government. Students take each test as they complete each course. (This includes middle-school students taking high-school-level courses.) The tests are based on the High School Core Learning Goals, which were created in 1996 and are part of the curriculum in all Maryland public schools. The HSA include multiple-choice questions and questions
requiring written responses. To see actual test questions and the High School Core Learning Goals, visit HSAexam.org.
requiring written responses. To see actual test questions and the High School Core Learning Goals, visit HSAexam.org.
HSA scores are published on www.mdreportcard.org for schools, school systems, and the state. Within nine weeks after testing, the testing company sends students’ scores to the local school system. The school system then sends the scores to parents.
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