What is the MSA?
Maryland School Assessment (MSA) is a set of tests for students in grades 3-8, designed to measure progress in Mathematics and Reading. They are given annually
and meet the requirements of the No Child Left Behind Act. MSA also includes a Science assessment given to students in grades five and eight. The tests are a
combination of multiple choice questions and questions that require students to write a response. Here is a link to a tutorial explaining MCTES's progress as
measured on the spring 2008 assessment.
What is the TerraNova?
The TerraNova is a nationally normed assessment produced by McGraw Hill. It is used to monitor second grade student progress in Reading, Mathematics and Language.
Click here to see the
2008 TerraNova results.
What is Baldridge?
Baldrige is a systematic method to set goals, gather information from multiple sources, measure progress, and revise plans in order to make sure a school
is operating a peak efficiency to achieve academic excellence. Additional information can be found at:
http://www.montgomeryschoolsmd.org/info/baldrige/ What is a BCR?
A BCR, or Brief Constructed Response, is a written response to questions following reading text. The BCR should be short, only a few sentences, and should answer the question
with support from the text. The purpose of BCRs is to show understanding and critical analysis. one of several tools teachers use to assess their students' reading comprehension. This tool specifically targets a students'
ability to communicate their comprehension through written answers.
At what reading level should my child be?
Reading levels for each grade can be found here.
How can I help at school?
Parent volunteers are always welcome. Arrange a time with your child's teacher, or coordinate with the staff. If your child's teacher does not need help, there are many
other areas in the school where you could volunteer: lunch aid, media center, other classrooms, etc. Don't forget to sign in at the
front office.
