Why are the MCA exams so important?
That is a very legitimate question to ask. I hope the following letter explains the importance of the exams and why we are hoping our ISD196 Students will take the assessments seriously.
So why do our students take the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessment or MCA?
The Minnesota K-12 Academic Standards are the statewide expectations for student learning in K-12 public schools. School districts are required to put state standards into place so all students have access to high-quality content and instruction. The MCA exam (along with the MAP test) is used to help guide teachers and differentiate their lessons.
There are 4 strands in the Minnesota middle school standards called Number & Operation, Algebra, Geometry & Measurement, and Data Analysis & Probability. Each standard has benchmarks that teachers try to reach in terms of what they teach each year in math. Follow these links to see the standards as written by the Minnesota Department of Education: Grade 6 Grade 7 Grade 8
Why are the MCA Exams so important to our students, parents, and teachers?
1. MCA exams are important measures to assess our students’ academic knowledge and proficiency and are compatible with information from previous grades so teachers can see patterns of growth.
2. The results provide a snapshot of student learning success. Assessments are an integral part of instruction, as it determines whether or not the goals of education are being met. Assessment affects decisions about grades, placement, advancement, instructional needs, curriculum, and, in some cases, funding. Assessments inspire us to ask these hard questions: "Are we teaching what we think we are teaching?" "Are students learning what they are supposed to be learning?" "Is there a way to teach the subject better, thereby promoting better learning?"
3. The assessment measures how our curriculum aligns with the Minnesota Academic Standards and our own District 196 standards. It provides data to be used by our teachers for strengthening instructional approaches.
4. The MCA is a standardized exam that utilizes an array of different assessment methods (or different types of question formats like multiple choice, drag & drop, short answer, etc.) which provide multiple opportunities for students to demonstrate their understanding and knowledge. This is great practice as our students move into the high schools and prepare to take the MCA Math Exam and the ACT exam during their junior year. Our 33 Minnesota State Colleges and Universities (MinnState.edu) use high school MCA results for course placement. If students receive a college-ready score, they may not need to pay for and take a remedial, noncredit course for that subject area.
5. The MCA exam is a great way for students (and their parents) to see the culmination of their hard work over the past 7-9 years.
We challenge our students across the district to take the MCA exam seriously. Why not take the opportunity to see where your strengths lie? Those strengths may help guide you as you graduate from middle school, move on to high school, and eventually graduate to move on to earning a college degree or moving into the workforce.
