Hello families. This week, our students start taking the Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP). State standardized testing provides a uniform way to assess student knowledge and skills, aiding in accountability, progress tracking, and curriculum improvement. It helps identify student strengths and weaknesses, informs teaching practices, and can be used to measure the effectiveness of educational programs. Additionally, these tests can inform local decision-making, identify accountability measures, and guide resource allocation. It is important that students do their very best each day of the test.
To help your child perform their best on this assessment, the following actions are recommended:
- Ask your child to charge their device every night.
- Ensure they have wired earbuds for testing use (Bluetooth connection is not permitted).
- Ensure that your child is at school and on time (by 8:05) for testing. Arriving late may mean that your child will miss academic classes for make-up testing.
- Help your child get a good night's sleep by taking away distractions and setting an early bed time.
- Avoid scheduling any appointments and early dismissals until after 11:00.
BAMS Testing Dates (testing begins after homeroom):
- ELA: 4/29, 4/30, 5/1, 5/2
- SS (8th Grade Only): 5/7, 5/8
- Math: 5/14, 5/15
Sincerely,
Principal Silk
