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Teachers score Missouri MAP tests
Sept. 1, 2001
In Room 302 at Central High School, 26 teachers from 18 Missouri school districts gather each day to score seventh-grade MAP science tests. They are among 216 classroom teachers statewide who are gaining valuable experience this summer by grading communication arts, mathematics and science tests.
To become test scorers, teachers had to complete a rigorous weeklong training session and pass an exam. Among those who qualified as certified test scorers are six Springfield Public Schools teachers: Diana Byrd, Darlene Henne, Nancy Hopkins, Susan Langston, Brenda Lewellen and Lexie Yancey.
Between now and the end of June, these individuals will help grade about 8 percent of the seventh-grade science tests taken by Missouri students earlier this year.
The in-state scoring projects were organized by the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education to provide professional development opportunities to teachers. The project allows educators to gain first-hand knowledge of the standardized tests used to evaluate student progress and the overall performance of every school district.
"These folks are going to go back to their districts with some real insight into how this test is scored and also how students interpreted the test questions," explained Barbara St. Clair, regional MAP coordinator. "That experience will make them better teachers."
Diana Byrd, an instructional specialist for school improvement, is a certified test scorer and serves as a team leader, which required her to complete an additional weeklong training session at the California Testing Bureau. As an instructor to teachers, she is excited about how this experience will help her in her job. "Teachers are always looking for ways to help their students perform better on standardized tests," she said.
Having scored tests herself, Byrd now knows what constitutes an acceptable constructed-response answer. Making those decisions though is an awesome responsibility, she said. "It can be very stressful when you're responsible for deciding whether this child is going to get that point for a question," Byrd explained.