Column: Prairie students prepare for state tests

• District 518

District 518

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WORTHINGTON — The third- and fourth-grade students at Prairie Elementary are preparing for the MCA Math and Reading state tests.

Prairie Elementary is evaluated each year based on the scores of the MCA test. Students’ performances on the tests determine where Prairie Elementary will be placed on AYP (Adequate Yearly Progress). AYP is a measurement defined by the United States Federal No Child Left Behind Act that allows the U.S. Department of Education to determine how every public school and school district in the country is performing academically according to the results of standardized tests.

At Prairie Elementary, there are 16 different subgroups that are measured in reading and math. The subgroups are based on ethnicity, socioeconomic status, English proficiency and special education services. After testing in 2011, Prairie Elementary made some great improvements. The school was able to meet Adequate Yearly Progress in 12 of the 16 subgroups.

The third- and fourth-grade students will be taking the MCA Math test two times this year, once in February and then again in April. The Reading portion of the test will be administered one time in April. The Prairie Elementary Administrators, Josh Noble and Jason Grovom, are very encouraged about the results of the 2011 MCA Test. They feel that they have the right people in place and the proper initiatives to continue to see growth in student achievement.

If you have any questions about the MCA Test, please call Jason Grovom at Prairie Elementary at 727-1250.

Jason Grovom is assistant principal at Prairie Elementary.

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