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MEA president asks state not to use ‘unreliable’ M-STEP data to evaluate teachers

LANSING — The Michigan Education Association on Tuesday asked Gov. Rick Snyder and state education leaders not to use data from the state standardized test this year due to issues with the test.

In an open letter sent to Snyder and education leaders, MEA President Steve Cook said his members are reporting many issues with the Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP).

“After just five days, we’re hearing loud and clear from our members just some of the many problems associated with M-STEP,” Cook said. “It’s impossible to believe that this test could be an accurate measure of student growth. We can’t use unreliable data to judge teachers and school districts.”

Administration of the M-STEP began last week and will take place over the next few weeks in districts around the state of Michigan.

The M-STEP was put in place when the Legislature did not fund Smarter Balanced assessments for Common Core standards. It was meant to be a one-year stop-gap between the Michigan Education Assessment Program and a new test.

The M-STEP is now poised to be the next standardized test for the state of Michigan after a three-year contract was awarded to vendors who made the current test.

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