August 7, 2008

LANSING – Scores increased slightly this year on the state’s high school test, the Michigan Merit Exam (MME), the Michigan Department of Education announced today. High school juniors were tested this past spring on the MME, which includes the college entrance exam, the ACT.

Compared to the results from spring 2007, the percentage of Michigan public school 11th graders who scored at the proficient or advanced levels improved slightly in the subjects of reading, writing, English language arts, and science.  There was no change in the percentage of students scoring proficient or advanced in math.  There was a slight decline in the students who scored proficient or advanced in social studies.

“We are seeing the benefits of a renewed emphasis on high school achievement,” said State Board of Education President Kathleen N. Straus. “Schools, parents, and students are becoming more aware that high school achievement is the launch pad to post-secondary success and greater opportunity for a high-paying career.”

For each subject area, the percentages of 11th grade students achieving proficient or advanced performance levels compared to 11th graders from the previous year were as follows: Reading 62% up from 60%; writing 41% up from 40%; English language arts 52% up from 51%; mathematics 46% in both years; science 57% up from 56%; and social studies 80% down from 83%.

The MME includes a national ACT college entrance exam. On average, Michigan students who took the ACT as part of this state test had the same composite score (18.8) as last year’s students on this test.

“The MME, with the inclusion of the ACT, is a rigorous test and all students have to be prepared with the knowledge to excel,” said state Superintendent of Public Instruction Mike Flanagan. “As the requirements of the new high school curriculum continue to be implemented, we expect to see students’ scores improve.”

The state’s new graduation requirements went into effect beginning with last year’s freshman class, and are not reflective in this past spring’s MME, Flanagan explained.

“Once all students are given the opportunity to become proficient in subjects like algebra, where districts are developing different ways for kids to learn in a traditional classroom or a career pathway, we will see this commitment by schools and students rewarded with greater success for all kids,” he said.

Schools receive a variety of printed and electronic reports for the MME, including Parent Reports that show their student’s performance on the statewide assessment.  Schools are to make available to parents the printed Parent Reports when students return to class this fall, or to mail the Parent Reports home upon receipt.  Parents are encouraged to contact their school's Guidance Office if they do not receive their student's printed Parent Report by mid-September.

The Michigan Merit Exam is given each spring to Michigan 11th grade students.  Completing the MME qualifies the student for the $4,000 Michigan Promise scholarship, administered by the Michigan Department of Treasury.

To qualify for the $4,000 scholarship, students must take the complete MME and receive scores in reading, writing, mathematics, and science.  To qualify for up-front installment payments from the Department of Treasury, students must achieve the Proficient or Advanced level in those same subjects.  They will receive $1,000 during their freshman and sophomore years of college, and then receive the remaining $2,000 after successfully completing two years of college. 

In addition to enabling students to earn the $4,000 scholarship, taking the MME provides students with a free college-reportable ACT score, accepted by a vast majority of colleges in the United States.  They also receive an ACT WorkKeys score for employability skills related to reading for information and applied mathematics.

MME scores are divided into four performance levels: Advanced, Proficient, Partially Proficient, and Not Proficient. Students who place in either the Advanced or Proficient levels are considered to be “proficient” in that subject. Those who place in the Partially Proficient or Not Proficient levels are deemed to be “not proficient.”

While individual student scores are protected by a federal right to privacy law, summary data about an entire school or district is available to the public at www.michigan.gov/mme.  From there, click on "MME Test Results" on the left side of the screen.  Documents available online for Spring 2008 MME are Demographic Reports, Frequently Asked Questions, a School and District Data File, School and District Summary Reports, Statewide Results, and a Michigan Promise Scholarship Fact Sheet.

- 2008 Spring MME Frequently Asked Questions
- MME State Summary Report for Grade 11 
- School and District Summary Reports
- MME Spring 2008 School & District Data File
- ACT Spring 2008 School & District Data File