The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has released the following general information about the high school improvement program, including the high school assessment initiative. A letter State Superintendent Nancy Grasmick is included.

	What are the High School Assessments? The HSA are tests of a student’s knowledge in English I, government, algebra/ data analysis, geometry, and biology. (More tests may be added in future phases of the testing program.) The HSA are referred to as “end-of-course” tests, because students take each test as they complete the appropriate coursework. The HSA contain short-essay, long-essay, and multiple-choice questions that are based on the content outlined in Maryland’s Core Learning Goals. For more information about the Core Learning Goals, and to view sample test questions, visit School Improvement in Maryland on the Web.
	Must students pass the tests in order to graduate from high school? Beginning with the 2001-2002 school year, all students must take the HSA as they complete the corresponding courses. How students are held accountable for their performance depends on when they enter grade 9. Students entering grade 9 in fall 2001 or 2002—and middle school students enrolled in high school-level classes (see third bullet)—are required to take the HSA. Passing the tests is not a requirement for graduation; however, students’ scores on the English I, algebra/data analysis, government, and biology assessments will be reported on their high school transcripts as a percentile rank.   Students entering grade 9 in or after fall 2003—and middle school students enrolled in high school-level classes (see bullet below)—are slated to be required to take and pass the English I, algebra/data analysis, government, and biology assessments in order to graduate from high school.   Middle school students who take a test during the 2001-2002 or 2002- 2003 school year will have their percentile ranks reported on their transcripts, but they will not be required to pass the test. Middle school students taking tests after passing scores are set (2003-2004 school year) will be required to take and pass the tests as a graduation requirement.   At this time, students must take the geometry assessment, but they will not receive individual scores. The geometry test will be administered solely for question-development and validation purposes.   Once passing the HSA becomes a graduation requirement, students who do not pass a test the first time they take it will receive assistance from the local school system and may retake the test.
	What is a percentile rank? Because HSA passing scores have not yet been established, scores from HSA taken during the 2001-2002 and 2002-2003 school years will be reported as percentile ranks. For example, if a student earns a percentile rank of 60 on the biology test, it means that he or she performed as well as or better than 60 percent of all Maryland students who took the biology test. Many tests, such as the Comprehensive Test of Basic Skills (CTBS/5), use percentile ranks to describe student performance.
	How do the HSA relate to the MSPAP? Both tests are linked to the Maryland Content Standards, which outline what students should know and be able to do in grades preK through 12. The Maryland School Performance Assessment Program, or MSPAP, given in grades 3, 5, and 8, is raising academic performance in Maryland’s elementary and middle schools. The HSA extend these higher expectations into grades 9-12. The tests will gauge both school performance and individual student performance, providing valuable information to students, parents, teachers, administrators, and school improvement teams.
	How do the HSA relate to the Maryland Functional Tests? The Maryland Functional Tests were developed in the 1980s to ensure that Maryland’s high school graduates were competent in several basic skill areas. They were designed as tests to measure only the most basic skills and functional knowledge. As passing the HSA becomes a graduation requirement, the HSA will replace the Maryland Functional Tests. The HSA will better prepare students for the variety of challenges they will encounter in life and in their careers. It is important for students to take the HSA seriously, because high school transcripts are used by businesses and colleges to make decisions about hiring and admissions.
	How were the HSA developed? Teachers and other educators, parents, business leaders, community members, and educational and professional organizations and associations from across Maryland collaborated on the development of the HSA. Each test item undergoes a comprehensive review process before it is included in an assessment.
	What other testing programs were considered? Maryland reviewed many testing programs to gain information about how testing can be part of a high school program and improve instruction. National and international assessments were reviewed, including programs in Germany, England, and France, as well as U.S. test models such as the North Carolina End-of-Course Tests, the New York Regents Examinations, and Advanced Placement exams.
For more information, call 410-767-0600 (Baltimore area) or 1-888-246-0016 (toll free) or visit our website at www.msde.state.md.us. Maryland State Department of Education, 200 West Baltimore Street, Baltimore, MD 21201 REVISED September 2001

CLICK HERE for staff development ideas to assist staff in understanding the design of the high school assessments and their relationship to the State Core Learning Goals, Skills for Success, and school system Scope and Sequence documents.

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