State of Montana Newsroom
Superintendent Elsie Arntzen Announces Successful First Assessment Writing Workshop
HELENA – Superintendent Elsie Arntzen is proud of the work that 32 Montana fifth and seventh-grade math and English teachers completed between July 11 and 15 during an assessment-writing workshop. During the workshop, these teachers developed test questions for the new Montana Alternative Student Testing (MAST) pilot program. The MAST pilot program is designed to replace the one-size-fits-all end-of-the-year summative assessment with smaller testlets that are taken closest to the learning of the skill throughout the school year.
“A heartfelt thanks goes to our Montana teachers that put their time and expertise into this test writing workshop,” said Superintendent Elsie Arntzen. “The new MAST program is truly Montana-made for Montana schools. Creating a test that accurately measures student learning is beneficial to both our students and our teachers.”
“Collaborating and networking with amazing educators from across our state, and Louisiana, made for a quality learning experience,” said April Wills, a 5th-grade math teacher at Bainville Public School. “Educational shifts begin with small steps; I think MAST may be an avenue for steps in the right direction. Participating in the early development process gave me insight and perspective while also opening the door to contribute in a proactive way.”
“Participation in the New Meridian Item Writing Workshop was a valuable experience, providing the unique opportunity to be on the item writing side of state-level assessments,” said Sonja Whitford, Math Instructional Coordinator at the Office of Public Instruction. “Throughout the week, I was honored to work alongside committed Montana educators who worked hard to create assessment items that our Montana students can relate to and that can help educators determine students’ strengths and plan for their learning.”
New Meridian hosted the workshop in Denver, Colorado. This workshop focused on writing math and reading test questions for grades 5 and 7. These new test questions will align with Montana’s math and reading state teaching and learning standards. The MAST pilot program is designed to provide several testlets given throughout the year that will aggregate into a total score. These testlets will minimally disrupt day-to-day classroom teaching and learning while being reflective of the time when the skill is taught. The MAST pilot program is being developed with local Montana stakeholder input as a tool our Montana teachers can use to maximize student academic achievement and classroom learning.
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