The Maryland School Assessment in Science (MSA Science)
measures higher order thinking skills, as related to the science
concepts in the Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum (VSC). First
administered in 2007, this assessment is required for all diploma-bound
students in Grades 5 and 8. MSA Science meets the requirements of the 2001 No Child Left Behind (NCLB), which mandates that students must
be assessed in science a minimum of one time in elementary school and
one time in middle school. In addition, NCLB requires that students be
tested once during high school; the Biology High School Assessment
(HSA), which is also a graduation requirement, is used for this purpose.
While MSA Science and the Biology HSA are part of the state
accountability program to meet the requirements of NCLB, these tests are not included as part of the measures of Adequate Yearly
Progress (AYP).
MSA Science is administered in late April to early May
each year. Testing lasts for about 90 minutes per day for two
consecutive school days. Although a traditional paper and pencil testing
option exists, the a majority of students throughout Maryland will take
this assessment online. The Maryland State Department of Education
(MSDE) has worked closely with the testing vendor, Pearson, to ensure
that the test is fair, valid, and reliable, regardless of whether
students take the test online or not.
MSA Science is a tool used for measuring students' knowledge over
several years of learning. The Grade 5 assessment measures student
learning, as related to the VSC concepts from both Grades 4 and 5. The
Grade 8 assessment covers the VSC concepts from Grades 6, 7, and 8. Each
student receives a score on the assessment that is then categorized as
being in one of three score ranges: Basic, Proficient, or
Advanced. The standards for these ranges or "cut scores" were determined by a group of Maryland educational stakeholders in late
2007. These "cut scores" remain the same from year to year. The data generated from the
assessment are useful for both instructional and school improvement
purposes.
For more information, contact a school counselor or visit one of the
following Web sites.
*The source of this information is the Maryland Accommodations Manual for Use in Instruction and Assessment, which became official as of February 15, 2008 (Issue ID: 200801).
