The Maryland School Performance Assessment Program (MSPAP) measures students’ ability to demonstrate mastery of the Maryland Learning Outcomes (MLO) through  tasks that require students to respond to questions or directions that lead to a solution of a problem, a recommendation or decision, or an explanation or rationale for the responses. Some tasks assess one content area; other tasks assess multiple content areas. Activities comprising the tasks may be group or individual activities; hands-on, observation, or reading activities; and/or activities that require extended written responses, limited written responses, lists, charts, graphs, diagrams, webs, and/or drawings.

Basic skills and knowledge — such as reading for a general understanding, writing to communicate clearly, making accurate arithmetic calculations, understanding key scientific concepts, and identifying historical and geographic information — are assessed in MSPAP tasks. However, the tests emphasize higher order skills such as supporting an answer with information; predicting an outcome and comparing results to the prediction; and comparing and contrasting information. This sort of thoughtful application of skills and knowledge to solve problems, make decisions, and understand information is the essence of higher order thinking.

Public release tasks are actual MSPAP test items that have been retired and released to educators.

(Source: mdk12.org)

For instructional planning purposes, the Maryland Learning Outcomes are used to assist teachers in structuring lessons and units along a continuum of skills and competencies. MSDE has online the complete list of these outcomes at mdk12.org; a summary of these outcomes appears below.

Mathematics

Mathematics outcomes for MSPAP foster the idea that mathematically literate students can:

• Reason mathematically

• Problem solve

• Communicate mathematically

• Understand mathematics connections within the discipline, with other content areas, and with the real world.

• Demonstrate the ability to apply their knowledge of mathematics content in the following domains:

   

  • Number Concepts and Relationships

  • Measurement/Geometry

  • Statistics

  • Probability

  • Patterns and Relationships

  • Patterns/Algebra

Science

MSPAP identifies six essential outcomes for science which define scientific literacy as it relates to students' ability to:

• Acquire and integrate major concepts and themes from the Life, Physical, and Earth/Space Sciences.

• Interpret and explain scientific phenomena

• Demonstrate ways of thinking and acting inherent in the practice of science.

• Demonstrate positive attitudes toward science and its relevance to society.

• Employ the language, instruments, methods, and materials of science for collecting, organizing, interpreting, and communicating information.

• Apply science in solving problems and making decisions about issues affecting the individual, society, and environment.

Writing/Language Usage

MSPAP emphasizes that proficient writers use both rhetorical devices and the craft of writing for various purposes and audiences. They also rely on writing process strategies for many purposes. Students are expected to demonstrate positive attitudes toward writing and to be able to:

• Write for various audiences and address the following purposes:

• To inform

• To persuade

• To express Personal Ideas

• Prewrite, draft, revise, and proofread as part of a strategic approach to effective writing.

• Consider correctness, completeness, and appropriateness and make conscious language choices that create style and tone and affect reader response.

• Focus on sentence form, word choice, grammar, usage, punctuation, capitalization, and spelling.

Reading

MSPAP supports the definition of proficient readers as individuals who construct, extend, and examine meaning by orienting themselves to various texts and purposes. Students are expected to:

• Demonstrate positive attitudes towards reading a variety of texts.

• Use strategic reading behaviors to construct, extend, and examine meaning for a variety of texts.

• Read for a variety of orientations and purposes, including:

• Reading for Literary Experience

• Reading to be Informed

• Reading to Perform a Task

• Interact with texts using the four reading stances:

• Global Understanding

• Developing Interpretation

• Personal Reflections and Responses

• Critical Stance

 Social Studies

Social Studies MSPAP outcomes focus on the knowledge, skills, concepts, and processes required for student proficiency. Students are expected to:

• Demonstrate an understanding of political systems in Maryland and the United States.

• Demonstrate an understanding of the history, diversity, and commonality of peoples of the nation and the world.

• Demonstrate an understanding of geographic concepts and processes.

• Demonstrate an understanding of historical development and current status of economic principles, institutions, and processes needed to be effective citizens, consumers, and workers in American society.

• Demonstrate attainment of understandings and attitudes needed to secure a reasoned commitment to human dignity, justice, and democratic processes.

• Gather information, think critically, and solve problems.

• Attain a positive self-concept and empathy toward others in order to improve interaction among individuals and groups in our democratic society.

This document represents a summary of various state and local materials related to MSPAP preparation. It was developed by the following individuals:  John L. Brown, M. Antoinette Kellaher, and Louise F. Waynant.

CLICK HERE for some staff development ideas to help staff understand the design and organization of the MSPAP outcomes.

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