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BACKGROUND:
The Outstanding Schools Act (OSA) called for the development of a new
assessment system for Missouri’s public schools. The law was enacted
with bipartisan support by the Missouri legislature and was signed by
Gov. Mel Carnahan in May 1993.
MAP:
The Missouri Assessment Project (MAP) is the professional development
piece of the assessment system being developed as a result of the Outstanding
Schools Act. The new assessment system is required to be primarily performance-based,
to measure not only a student’s knowledge and skills, but also how well
that student can apply knowledge to existing or new situations. MAP
provides the state’s teachers training in the use, scoring and development
of performance assessment.
WHY?
"Life is not a multiple-choice test." The goal of performance assessment
is to improve academic achievement by requiring students to apply their
knowledge and skills in demanding, realistic situations. Performance
assessment is intended to complement, not replace, traditional methods
of testing and assessment, and is designed to encourage learners to
understand and apply basic academic skills more effectively.
WHEN?
The development of a new assessment system is only one initiative of
the OSA. In the 1996-97 school year, the Missouri Department of Elementary
and Secondary Education started phasing in some components of the new
assessment system. The new assessment system has been part of the MSRP
since 1998.
Northwest MAP Regional Center
800 University Drive
Maryville, MO 64468
Phone: 800-772-0236
Fax: 660.562.1890
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