Indicator 29: Youth Achieving Learning Results
Why This Is Important
The Maine Educational Assessment (MEA) test is given at grades 4, 8 and 11 to all Maine
students. It focuses attention on whether a student's work meets the standards of the State’s
Learning Results. MEA was redesigned for 2003-2004 to only include assessments for reading,
writing, math and science/technology. This new design will provide increased information at the
student level while reducing the overall testing time. The Department of Education supports the
development of effective local assessments for Social Studies, Visual and Performing Arts, and
Health. Data from previous measures of Social Studies, Visual & Performing Arts and Health
are available in 2005 Maine Marks.
Where We Stand
The MEA data shows that average scale scores in the current four subject areas have been
stable in the last three years, with strongest overall performance in reading and the lowest in
science. Only in Reading are nearly half of all students meeting or exceeding the State’s Learning
Results standards, the primary way in which educational performance is tracked in Maine. However, 4th and 8th grade students have made gains in math for 3 consecutive years. In addition, in math there has been a notable drop in the lowest performance category, "Does Not Meet the Standards". For example, for 8th graders, this category went from 32% in 2003-2004 to 27% in 2004-2005. Additionally, the decline was 6% from 20% to 14% of 4th graders. It is interesting to note that 11th grade meets and exceeds percentages dropped slightly in 2004-2005 for all subject areas. For example, 44% of 11th graders met or exceeded standards in 2004-2005, down 4% from 2003-2004.
There are four performance categories: Exceeds the Standards, Meets the Standards, Partially Meets
the Standards, and Does Not Meet the Standards. The MEA was revised in 1998-1999 to focus
attention on whether a student's work meets the Standards, rather than the student's relative
performance compared to other students. Because implementation of major education reform is
still in the early stages, and because the standards are very rigorous for all students, the Department
of Education emphasizes that the "Partially Meets the Standards" category should still be viewed
positively at this point, along with the "Meets" and "Exceeds" performance levels.
Data Sources and Context
The source for this data is the Maine Education Assessment Program, Maine Department of
Education; information is available on the Department of Education website at: http://www.state.me.us/education/mea/edmea.htm.
Disclaimer: Percentages for Does Not Meet, Partially Meets, Meets and Exceeds Standards on the MEA may not equal 100% due to rounding.
