The goal of statewide assessment is to provide all students with an opportunity to demonstrate what they know and have learned. Because students come from a variety of backgrounds and have diverse instructional needs, the State has developed different types of assessments to measure student learning. It’s important for parents to question the use of alternate assessments to understand the consequences (access to general education, graduation track vs certificate of completion, etc).
- Education Assessment: What it is and what it means MDE
- Should My Student Take the Alternate Assessment? MDE
- Flowchart for Selecting Appropriate Statewide Assessments MDE
- Supports and Accommodations FAQ MDE
- Supports and Accommodations Guidance Document for M-STEP, MI-Access, WIDA, PSAT, SAT, and ACT WorkKeys MDE
- MDE – Student Assessment (michigan.gov)
- Justice Department Issues Technical Assistance on Testing Accommodations September 2015
Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP)
In 2015, M-STEP replaced the MEAP test, which measured the previous state standards. The assessment will include Michigan-created content, as well as content developed by the multi-state Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium. Educators from Michigan public schools helped develop and write test content that will appear on M-STEP.
Michigan’s Alternate Assessment Program (MI-Access)
MI-Access is Michigan’s alternate assessment system, designed for students with cognitive impairments whose IEP (Individualized Educational Program) Team has determined that M-STEP assessments, even with accommodations, are not appropriate. MI-Access is further divided into Functional Independence, Supported Independence and Participation.
- MDE’s MI-Access webpage
- MDE’s MI-Access FAQ
