MEAP Info and Incentive

As you may or may not of heard, the MEAP has changed their "cut scores" this year. What this means in layman terms, the bar or level to be considered proficient has been raised. For example, if we apply our last year scores to the new "cut scores" SCMS's 6th grade class was at a 94% proficient level...this year it would be a 64% proficient level. Quite a differnce. The reason I bring this up is three fold. First, it's good information for all parents to have so you're not caught off guard when you get your child's scores back. Secondly, every year we have a number of kids that don't give their best effort from start to finish. Lets be honset....our kids aren't used to taking tests that last more than an hour. We see it every year that kids tail off toward the end of the test. Our goal this year, as it is every year is to finsh strong. Lastly, telling kids to finish strong and do their best doesn't always work so I've come up with a "carrot" that I hope will help keep them focused. If we get our Math and Reading scores at every grade level to a minimum of 70% we will have an assembly when we get the results back, choose one student to come out to center court and shave my head in front of everyone. If we get every student to do their best from start to finish, I'm hoping that I'll be looking for hats to wear.