The State of Maryland has set high standards for student achievement. They were good tests of knowledge, but they could not measure the kinds of skills students need to have in the 1990's and beyond. Students need to be able to apply what they have learned to real-life problems. To find out if they can do this, schools must give tests that ask students to show what they know and what they can do. These tests are called performance assessments.
Schools receive scores in each subject.
This means that your child will take the test three times by the time he or she reaches high school. Good thinking skills have to be taught and developed over a period of time. Every year makes a difference in your child's learning. The fifth grade is usually tested the first week, and the third and eighth grades the second week. Your child will have to use what he or she has learned in many classes and write answers in sentences and paragraphs.