A plan from state Rep. Jamie Thompson that provides new, practical options to the state’s standardized testing process to help both students and educators was advanced today by the Michigan House.

“We can’t afford to accept mediocrity. Not with our kids’ futures on the line,” said Thompson, of Brownstown, when addressing her legislation on the House floor. “These are bold reforms that prioritize student success over stringent systems, transparency over bureaucracy, and results over rhetoric. We must hold our institutions accountable, empower our educators, and put parents back at the center of the conversation. These bills will help deliver results our state desperately needs when it comes to reforming our broken education system.”

The Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) test is a computer-based summative assessment that aligns with the state’s approved educational standards. The M-STEP test, developed by the Michigan Department of Education (MDE), replaced the 44-year-old Michigan Educational Assessment Program test in the spring of 2015.

 Scores for the M-STEP are commonly received by schools after the school year has ended, meaning many districts do not use the M-STEP to track student growth and proficiency. Thompson noted that by the time schools review these scores, it’s too late to make changes that will benefit students.

“They’re at home on summer vacation by then,” Thompson said. “A teacher isn’t able to go into a classroom after seeing those scores and help a child who may have struggled that whole year.”

In addition, an overwhelming number of schools pay to use other benchmark assessments to measure student growth and proficiency throughout the year. Calls have grown to overhaul this impractical system and establish an assessment that encompasses both a measure of student growth and proficiency throughout the school year so teachers, parents, and schools can address potential issues in real time and MDE can provide assistance before the end of the year.

Thompson’s House Bill 4158 helps craft a system that moves from one high-stress assessment for students to multiple lower-stress and less time-consuming assessments to see how effectively children are learning. This new option will provide results during the school year to help teachers target students that need additional help while giving schools a more affordable way to get the data they need to make changes.

Two different pilot programs for state-administered assessment systems would be created – with options on the number and types of tests that would be used to track progress. A school district may apply to enroll in one of the pilot programs, with a maximum of 90 districts being able to participate. Access to the pilot programs would be split evenly between rural, suburban and urban districts. 

“Ultimately, teachers and parents shouldn’t be waiting months to find out how a child is doing. That just doesn’t make sense,” Thompson said. “Our state ranks 41^st in the nation in academics. That number should shake us to our core. It should stir urgency in every classroom, at every kitchen table, and through both legislative chambers in our state. Our students are struggling to learn, prepare for their futures and compete. This plan will deliver results in real-time to drive change.”

HBs 4157-58 now move to the Senate for consideration.

PHOTO INFORMATION: State Rep. Jamie Thompson speaks on House Bills 4157-58 on Thursday, April 17 at the state Capitol in Lansing.