Students, schools getting ready for MAP season

Central Middle School students Miccah Davis, Briana Lane and Kyla Bryant huddled around a hand-held white board, tipped forward to shield their answer from other groups. They glanced at the board with the statement: "This power word means to read between the lines."

"Ohhhh!" Kyla said, snapping her fingers, as Briana wrote "infer" on the board. "Uhhuh, we're good," chanted Kyla, shaking her shoulders.

The activity was part of the school's "MAP Academy," held after school Monday. About 216 Central Middle Schools students, roughly 40 percent of the school, attended the refresher session. Students snacked on hot dogs and chips before rotating between three rooms where educational games were played.

On Thursday, the Central Middle School fifth graders will begin a 140-page state test called the Missouri Assessment Program, or MAP test. The stakes are particularly high at Central Middle School, where students have not made adequate yearly progress, or AYP, the past two years.

If AYP is not met a third year, the school will be required to make supplemental education services, such as tutoring, available. Administrators have already been required to develop a school improvement plan and offer professional development.

Schools throughout Southeast Missouri kicked off "MAP season" with assemblies, incentives or, like at Central Middle School, last-minute tutoring. Some have brought in sports figures for motivational speeches. Others have shown videos about test-taking tips. Most have developed an incentive system for good behavior during the test.

"It puts the enthusiasm back in learning. The test can be scary. There's a lot of hype about the test; all year long we talk about it. We want to get the kids excited and motivated," said Tammy Gragg, a sixth-grade teacher at Central Middle School. Gragg led a "Jeopardy"-style session, where students answered questions such as "this word takes the place of a noun" or "this is a statement that can be proven."

Principal Mark Kiehne developed the MAP Academy based on success he had with a similar program as a principal in the Kelly School District last year. He said there are some students who are "worried sick" about the test, but that most "seem to be pretty excited." Student feedback about the academy was almost entirely positive Monday.

"It helps prepare. I think it was amazing. We played games," student Tyler Joseph said.

Students in third through eighth grades will complete the MAP test in both math and communication arts. Sophomores will take the test in math, and juniors will take the test in communication arts. Science is a required test subject for the first time this year, but it will not count toward AYP, or adequate yearly progress. Testing will take between 10 to 15 hours for most grades, spread out over seven sessions.

Some schools in Jackson began testing last week, but some will not begin testing until next week. The MAP test window was extended by a week statewide because of the high number of school closings due to severe weather earlier in the year.

Unlike Cape Girardeau, only two out of nine Jackson schools planned schoolwide motivational programs in anticipation of MAP, according to assistant superintendent Dr. Rita Fisher. No schools in Jackson are classified as being in "school improvement" for missing targets.

In Cape Girardeau, besides the middle school, Central Junior High and Central High School also missed targets last year. However, they have not faced the same consequences as the middle school because they are not Title 1 schools. Title 1 schools receive federal money to assist low-income students.

Statewide, the number of Title 1 schools receiving sanctions nearly doubled -- increasing from 105 to 204 -- between the 2005 to 2006 school year and the 2006 to 2007 school year. Many administrators expect the number of schools to enter "school improvement" status to increase again this year, as standards continue to be raised.

In 2006, 42.9 percent of students were required to score as proficient or advanced on the communication arts test for the school to make adequate yearly progress. This year, 51 percent will be needed. By 2014, 100 percent are expected to do so.

"In classes this week, I've told students this is their opportunity to tell the state how smart they are," said Jefferson Elementary counselor Rebeka Wright.

lbavolek@semissourian.com

335-6611, extension 123

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