October 3, 2003

The Michigan Department of Treasury today released statewide scores for the Winter 2003 Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP) 4^th, 5^th, 7^th, and 8^th grade tests. Statewide summaries show increases in several areas, including math, science, and social studies.

Sixty-five percent of the 4th grade students who took the mathematics portion of the test met or exceeded Michigan standards, while the number of 5th graders who met or exceeded state standards in science jumped four percent.

Fourth and seventh grade students took a new, combined English Language Arts test last winter. The test includes reading, writing, and a voluntary listening component. At both grade levels, nearly sixty percent of the students taking the ELA test met or exceeded state standards.

The Social Studies test continues to be the most difficult for students, though the 5^th and 8^th grade students tested showed improvement. The number of 5^th graders who met or exceeded Michigan standards jumped six percent, while one-third of Michigan 8^th graders met or exceeded state standards.

Summary reports for MEAP testing at all grade levels have been posted on the Michigan Department of Treasury web site at www.michigan.gov/treasury and at Michigan Department of Education. 

Scores for public school districts and individual school buildings as well as public school academies will also be available on Mi School Info www.mcgi.state.mi.us/mischoolinfo/ as of 5 p.m. today.

MEAP results will be used to finalize Adequate Yearly Progress (AYP) reports the Michigan Department of Education will be sending to schools. The calculation of AYP also includes requirements related to the percentage of students tested in the schools, a school's attendance rate, and the graduation rate of high schools. After receiving AYP reports, school districts will have 15 calendar days to review and make any necessary appeals to the state. Some schools around the state have not received all of their final results from winter tests. In those cases, a small number of test booklets has not yet been accounted for. The Department of Treasury, test scoring vendors, other contractors, and each of the school districts continue to work to locate the answer booklets. The Department of Education will work with administrators from the affected districts to determine how AYP reports should be calculated for those schools.

For more information about today's MEAP release, contact Terry Stanton at 335-1356. For additional information on the Department of Education's Adequate Yearly Progress reports, call Martin Ackley at 241-0439.