On top of that there was an effort to examine the work of 4,000 students who took the test in an attempt to assess and factor in how test results relate to classroom performance. May. However, the tests this year are different. They are shorter and scheduled differently. Maxcy said, writing, reading and health were tested starting the first week of December. Sumner s Leighton said the change in timing will make it hard to compare results.
Inconsistency is a criticism that has dogged the MEAs for years.
It s important to know where we stand from year to year. Ellsworth School Superintendent Jack Turcotte said he s not seriously inconvenienced by the delay in MEAs. But that s because he doesn t expect much from them. His hope is that the results of the next few years will establish the benchmarks that will make future MEAs more useful. He acknowledges the new program is in its infancy as the Learning Results are adopted.