March 21, 2025
Dear Parent/Guardian,
The Maine Educational Assessments (MEA) includes required assessments in Mathematics, English Language Arts (ELA)/Literacy, and Science. These assessments aim to match the content and skills outlined in the standards that guide instruction in the classroom and provide information about student learning. Assessment data allows our district to track cohort information over time so we can follow specific grade levels and determine ways to meet each group of students and individual learners' unique needs. Each test can only give a partial picture of achievement. In RSU 38, we combine local assessments, student grades, and teacher reports to look at the whole picture that shows essential information about student progress.
The State has transitioned from the Northwest Educational Assessment (NWEA) Measure of Academic Progress (MAP) Growth Assessment to the NWEA Maine Through-Year Assessment in Math and Reading in Grades 3 through 8 and 2nd year of high school during the fall (between September 16 through October 27, 2024) and spring (between April 14 and May 30, 2025). Additionally, the district will assess students in Grades K through 2 and Grade 9 using the NWEA MAP Growth Reading and Math during the State testing windows. The fall and spring administrations of the Maine Through Year Assessment will continue to provide RIT scores for all grade levels assessed to measure student growth over time; however, the spring assessment will additionally measure a student’s on-grade proficiency for the required grade levels.
The online MEA Science assessment designed by New Meridian is for students in grades 5, 8, and 3rd year of HS. The window for the MEA Science assessment is between April 2 through April 17 (high school) and May 12 through May 23, 2025 (grades 5 & 8). Finally, a small percentage of students with significant cognitive disabilities take an alternate assessment based on alternate achievement standards. The Maine State Alternative Assessment (MSAA) in Mathematics, ELA/Literacy, and Science will occur between March 10 and April 25, 2025. Your child’s school will provide specific dates for these assessments closer to the testing window.
We are committed to providing accurate information to parents and families in our community about the value of student participation in statewide assessments. Parents can request the district’s policies and procedures regarding student participation in state and local assessments. The district will provide all applicable information to families when requested. When students do not participate in state assessments, valuable information is lost. We must test all students to have an accurate picture of how to use our resources to best meet our students’ needs. We are confident that with the quality instruction delivered by our dedicated educators and your support, our students can meet and exceed these expectations. We encourage you to contact your child’s teacher and/or school administrator with questions about the MEA or your child’s progress.
Sincerely,
Karen G. Smith, Ed.D.
Director of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment