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Spring is the time of Year for MCA Testing
If you have a child in elementary, middle or high school in Minnesota, then you need to know about the standardized tests your child will be taking. In the month of April, students in Sauk Rapids-Rice School District will be taking the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment (MCA) in reading. Minnesota schools administer the MCA Reading test to students from third through eighth grade and high school. The MCA is a standards-based test, which means that test items are based on grade-specific Minnesota academic content standards.
What do the MCA Test Scores Mean?
For the MCA, students will receive one of four scores for each subject area tested:
- Exceeds standards
- Meets standards
- Partially meets standards
- Does not meet standards
Helping Your Child Prepare for Minnesota’s MCA Tests
Parents can help students succeed in school by making a special effort to get involved in their children’s education. One thing a parent can do is familiarize your child with the format of the test. Item samplers help students become familiar with the format of the test and provide examples of the types of questions that are on the test. You can find item samplers for each grade and subject on the Minnesota Assessments portal. (Go to www.mnstateassessments.org > Student/Family > Item Samplers.)
Other suggestions for parents:
- Encourage students to answer all test questions.
- Encourage students to participate in practice sessions at school and home.
- Have students get a good night’s sleep and eat a nutritious breakfast before taking a test.
- Provide students with a study area.
- Encourage students to practice good study habits. Students should set aside time every day for homework.
- Read to students and encourage them to read to you.
- Have students try crossword puzzles and news quizzes in your local newspaper.
- Encourage students to read the daily newspaper and general interest magazines.
- Discuss the events and stories you read about in the newspaper.
- Make sure your child is prepared. Tools needed for the reading test include: #2 pencils, highlighter, and eraser.
As always if you have any questions or concerns about the testing, please contact your child’s teacher.
Parent Support for MCAs
One of the most startling statistics I have seen is that children spend 10% of their childhood in school. That percentage just points out how important it is to get support from families to help children reach educational goals.”To parents, we can’t tell our kids to do well in school and then fail to support them when they get home.” ~ President Barack Obama, July 17, 2009. As we move toward MCA testing, parents can provide support in several ways.
Probably the most important way to support education is to speak positively about school. Point out how important your education was to get you where you are. Speak positively about testing. Make sure students know that doing their best is what counts. Acknowledge that tests are difficult and they are designed so that no one knows all of the answers.
To get the full benefit from an education, students need to be in attendance. Common sense would dictate not sending them when they are sick, but the month before MCA testing is critical. Teachers are working on practice tests that show students the format of questions. Students go to labs and practice becoming familiar with the computer tools available for the on-line tests. Being comfortable with the tools, helps students focus on answering questions during testing.
Doing what you can to keep students physically and emotionally healthy is important closer to testing dates. Make sure extra curricular activities don’t consume too much time after school. Getting rest and eating healthy helps students keep up their energy levels and stay healthy. When there is any tension for your child, help them get it resolved.
Thank you for all the support you give to help your child be successful on the upcoming MCA tests.
