This spring students will be taking the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) and PSAT 8/9 Tests (8th grade only). The testing window for administering these tests begins Monday, April 12th. All 8th graders will be tested during the first three weeks of the testing window ( the last day for testing for 8th graders will be Friday, April 30th). The 6th and 7th graders will begin testing during the week of May 3rd and complete testing before Friday, May 21th.
This year, 8th graders will take the PSAT 8/9 Tests (Evidence Based Reading and Writing and Math) in addition to M-Step Social Studies tests and M-Step Science tests. The PSAT 8/9 Tests were given on Tuesday, April 13th. These tests are timed and will take students 2 hours and 35 minutes to complete. If your child missed the first testing date, they will be allowed to test on the make-up testing date which will take place on Wednesday, April 28th. The M-Step Social Studies and M-Step Science tests will be given on Tuesday, April 20, Wednesday, April 21 or Thursday, April 22. Students must take these tests at the school and cannot take them at home virtually. Students will test on the assigned day they report for in-person instruction (Tuesday or Thursday). Students who are registered in the Virtual Learning Program will test on Wednesday.
Students in grades 6 and 7 will take the English language arts and the mathematics M-Step assessments, which will include both open-ended response and multiple choice questions. These tests are very difficult and measure how students apply knowledge in both language arts and math content areas. The ELA M-Step will be administered on Tuesday, May 4, Wednesday, May 5 and Thursday, May 6. The Math M-Step will be administered on Tuesday, May 18, Wednesday, May 19 and Thursday, May 20. Again, students must take these tests at the school and cannot take them at home virtually. Students will test on the assigned day they report for in-person instruction (Tuesday or Thursday). Students who are registered in the Virtual Learning Program will test on Wednesdays.
During 8th grade M-Step testing, 6th and 7th graders will report to school on their assigned day for in-person instruction. If a student is using a school chromebook, the student should bring that device to school on the day of testing. During 6th & 7th grade M-Step testing, 8th graders will report to school on their assigned day for in-person instruction. On the days that your child is not testing, teachers will post assignments in Schoology for students who are not in school testing. Please complete any/all assignments as directed by your respective teacher(s).
If for any reason, you do not want your child to take part in testing, please read the Middle School Testing Letter (posted for parents by Dearborn Schools Assessment Office) and complete the Google Form within the letter. Although it is written to the parents of the students in the Virtual Learning Program, the opt out form can be completed by parents of both Virtual or Hybrid remote learning students. Once you have completed the form, your child will be opted out of testing. If your child is not taking any of these tests, they should not report to school.
Here is the proposed schedule that we will follow for M-Step/PSAT 8/9 testing:
M-STEP Testing Schedule: Grade 8
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| April 12 | April 13 PSAT 8 Tests – AM(2 hour 35 minutes) | April 14 | April 15 | April 16 |
| April 19 | April 20 Science & SS M-Step Test(Grey Group/Odd Address) | April 21 Science & SS M-Step Test(100% Virtual Students) | April 22 Science & SS M-Step Test(Blue Group/Even Address) | April 23 Make-up Testing |
| April 26 Make-up Testing | April 27 Make-up Testing | April 28 PSAT 8/9 Make-up Testing | April 29 Make-up Testing | April 30 Make-up Testing |
M-STEP Testing Schedule: Grades 6 & 7
| Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday |
| May 3 | May 4 ELA M-Step Testing(Grey Group/Odd Address) | May 5 ELA M-Step Testing(100% Virtual Students) | May 6 ELA M-Step Testing(Blue Group/Even Address)) | May 7 Make-up Testing |
| May 10 Make-up Testing | May 11 Make-up Testing | May 12 No School | May 13 No School | May 14 No School |
| May 17 Math M-Step Testing(Blue Group/Even Address)) | May 18 Math M-Step Testing(Grey Group/Odd Address) | May 19 Math M-Step Testing(100% Virtual Students) | May 20 Make-up Testing | May 21 Make-up Testing |
Please review with your child the following test-taking tips.
Before the Test:
*Develop a positive attitude. Tell yourself, “I will do my best on this test.”
*Get a good night’s sleep the night before the test.
*Get up early enough to avoid hurrying to get ready for school.
*Eat a healthy breakfast.
During the Test:
*Relax and stay calm.
*Listen carefully to the directions the teacher gives.
*Ask questions if you don’t understand what to do.
*Read each question carefully. Find the keywords. Try to figure out what the question is really asking.
*Read the entire question and look at all the answer choices.
*Use strategies you learned in class to figure out the answer.
*Take your time picking the best answer; if the test is timed, answer all questions within the allotted time
For more information please visit Michigan Department of Education: www.michigan.gov/mde/
