Your monthly update on all things MS-CPAS!
May 2018 Issue
The Finish Line

As we charge headlong into the last month of the school year, it is not uncommon to breathe a sigh of relief. In this momentary pause, I feel it is normal to reflect on the positives of our last 10 months. Like you, we intentionally build this reflection time into our work to evaluate our work and see if we have done all we can in the best interest of Mississippi's children. To help with your introspection in your centers, we have a few reminders that may help during the summer "break."
  • Interpretive Guide: Each August, we update the MS-CPAS Interpretive Guide. This document provides data-interpretation guidelines for teachers, administrators, and school districts for all of the CTE reports offered by our department. The basic outline of this document is a listing of all reports, an ordered list of each report's functions defined, and a sample screenshot of each report. The guide can be downloaded here
  • Reports: Districts have access to reports from fall 2010 to the present. By studying all of the years per program, schools can gain insight into possible patterns in program success. Final reports are always published two weeks after the close of testing. If you are new to CTE or a veteran, please feel free to email the RCU Help Desk if you have suggestions for report modifications or new reports that will help in your programs. We are always open to your input! Reports can be accessed with your RCU district account here.
  • Other Important Dates: Download the exact dates for other testing-related events during the summer of 2018 in a single-page format here.
 
Thank you again for everything you do for the students and communities of Mississippi!

Sean Owen, PhD
Assessment Manager


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Announcements
  • Secondary final MS-CPAS reports will be available at 5 p.m. May 11, 2018, on the RCU's website.
MS-CPAS Update
  
As the testing cycle comes to an end, part of our annual process is to update the CTE Testing Manual. Our goal is to make manuals as user-friendly and as helpful as they can be, and your input is important in our reaching that goal. Would you please take a few minutes to complete this brief survey: CTE Testing Manual Updates? We look forward to hearing from you.

National Certifications Update
  
National certification testing continues through May 11 , with approximately 2,700 students having taken national certification exams at the halfway mark. Congratulations to all of them, and a special thanks to the teachers, test coordinators, and proctors for giving these high school students an opportunity to earn free industry credentials. Good luck as the second half of national certification testing gets underway!

Performance-Based Assessment Update
  
The performance-based assessment (PBA) window closed April 27, and we hope that your PBA was a success. We always appreciate your feedback, so be on the lookout for a PBA survey in your inbox and please take the time to fill it out. Your suggestions help us to improve our process.
 
For sunset programs (digital media technology, early childhood education, teacher academy, and transportation logistics), preliminary scores are available now on the Test Status Page of the RCU's website (available via login for test coordinators). For all programs, reports will be available by 5 p.m. on May 11th.
CS4MS logo
21 Districts Joining CS4MS

Twenty-one Mississippi school districts will join the Computer Science for Mississippi (CS4MS) pilot program, the Mississippi Department of Education (MDE) announced this winter.

The CS4MS pilot program, administered by the Research and Curriculum Unit, aims to have a continuous K-12 computer science pipeline, in terms of curriculum standards and teacher development, in all Mississippi schools by 2024.

"School districts' efforts are putting Mississippi at the forefront of the national movement to offer computer science to all students, which will better prepare them for their futures. Adding computer science to our curriculum across the state ensures our students will be well-equipped for college and the ever-increasing technology influence in all careers," said Jean Massey, executive director of MDE's Office of Secondary Education.

Over the course of the three-year pilot, approximately 75 districts have participated in offering computer science courses and material to their students. After this summer's professional development sessions end, more than 800 teachers will have received training through the program.

MDE has also developed learning standards for computer science that will be available to all school districts for the 2018-2019 academic year.

The school districts joining CS4MS include: Biloxi, Booneville, Calhoun County, DeSoto County, Enterprise, Forrest County, Grenada (city), Holly Springs, Jefferson Davis County, Jones County, Long Beach, McComb, North Bolivar County, North Panola County, North Tippah County, Petal, Quitman (city), Quitman County, Stone County, Tupelo, and Webster County.


Key Contacts
Assessment Manager ..............................
IAD Meetings ...........................................
National Certification ...............................
PBA .........................................................

Have assessment needs not addressed in this issue?
Create a Help Desk ticket, and we'll get right on it! 

662.325.2510 | rcu.msstate.edu
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