Note: Annual Reports and School Improvement Plans have moved to the new School Profiles page. 

Student Assessment at P-CCS

Plymouth-Canton Community Schools strives to create and live into a balanced student assessment system that benefits the whole child and all users of assessment information, including students, parents, teachers, administrators, and the community.  Our goal is to use various tools and strategies to inform us where students are in their learning journey so that we can adjust how to most effectively meet their educational needs.  As a result, student assessment can be used to inform instruction, measure progress, specify additional learner needs, guide in-depth supports, indicate growth toward competencies, and provide information regarding outcomes.

At P-CCS, students participate in assessment that is both formal and informal, and the assessment practices may look different depending on their desired purpose.  To meet these various needs, assessment might take the form of observation, discussion, check-ins, classwork, projects, performances, quizzes, tests, exams, interim/benchmark tests (DIBELS, NWEA MAP Growth), and state summative tests (M-STEP, PSAT/SAT, WIDA, MI-Access).

No single assessment can give students, parents, educators, and the community all of the information that they need.  The evidence gathered from all of the formal and informal assessments in our system helps teachers and administrators understand student proficiency and growth, plan for instruction, and evaluate progress on school improvement goals.

District Interim/Benchmark Assessments

Information gathered from the district interim/benchmark assessments is used by teachers to inform instruction and monitor progress for students.  The information is also used by building and district leaders to inform support for curriculum and instruction throughout the district.

DIBELS                                                                                                                                                       DIBELS (Dynamic Indicators of Basic Early Literacy Skills) is a set of procedures and measures for assessing the acquisition of literacy skills.  They are designed to be short (one minute) fluency measures that can be used to regularly detect risk and monitor the development of early literacy and early reading skills in kindergarten through fifth grade.  Each subtest has been thoroughly researched and demonstrated to be a reliable and valid indicator of early literacy development.  The measures are consistent with many of the Michigan Standards for Reading, especially those for Foundational Skills.  When used in combination with other literacy measures, educators are able to support and monitor early literacy development.

NWEA MAP Growth                                                                                                                                  NWEA MAP Growth is a computer-adaptive assessment designed to measure what students know and monitor student progress throughout the school year and across multiple years.  Students in grades K-8 are assessed in reading and math multiple times each year to help teachers gain a deeper understanding of student achievement and growth.  P-CCS also uses MAP Growth information to assign students to academic supports as well as advanced learning opportunities such as advanced math classes and the Talented and Gifted (TAG) program.  Explore the Family Toolkit to learn more about the NWEA suite of assessments.

State Summative Assessments

Michigan's state summative assessments measure student progress of the state content standards or other career or college-readiness goals.  The Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress (M-STEP) is given to students in grades 3-7 to measure their knowledge of state standards in English language arts (ELA) and mathematics.  The PSAT 8/9 measures ELA and mathematics in grade 8.  Student knowledge of science and social studies standards is measured by M-STEP in grades 5 and 8.

High school students take the PSAT 8/9 in grade 9 and PSAT 10 in grade 10 to inform schools, students, and parents about what students know in ELA and mathematics and help prepare students for the SAT college entrance exam which is given to every high school junior as part of the Michigan Merit Examination (MME).  The MME consists of a free SAT with Essay measuring student knowledge on state ELA and mathematics standards, M-STEP science and social studies, and a work skills assessment called ACT WorkKeys.

Below you can find additional information about each assessment within the state system.

M-STEP (Michigan Student Test of Educational Progress)                                                                    M-STEP is a computer-based assessment designed to gauge how well students are mastering state standards.  English language arts and mathematics are assessed in grades 3-7; science and social studies are assessed in grades 5, 8, and 11.

PSAT/SAT                                                                                                                                                      PSAT and SAT are considered part of the SAT suite of assessments from the College Board and are part of Michigan's state assessment system when administered during school in the spring.  These assessments are designed to measure what students are learning in class and what they need to succeed in college and beyond.  English language arts and mathematics are assessed in grades 8 and 9 with the PSAT 8/9, in grade 10 with the PSAT 10, and in grade 11 with the SAT.  SAT Free Practice and Personalized Study is available through Khan Academy.  Students can access thousands of questions approved by the College Board, take four official SAT practice tests, and create personalized study plans based on their results.  Starting in 2023-24 PSAT and SAT will be administered in a digital, computer-adaptive format.

Note:  Students may elect to take the PSAT/NMSQT in the fall of their junior year. This is not required and is not part of the state assessment system.   Students who take the PSAT/NMSQT and meet other program entry requirements specified can enter the National Merit Scholarship Program, an academic competition for recognition and scholarships.  Students and families may contact their high school counselor to inquire about the registration process, fees, fee waivers, and the National Merit Scholarship Program.

MI-Access                                                                                                                                                      MI-Access is Michigan's alternate assessment system designed for students who have, or function as if they have, cognitive impairments and whose IEP (Individualized Educational Program) Team has determined that general assessments, even with accommodations, are not appropriate.  MI-Access is based on Michigan's alternate content expectations for English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies.  The three MI-Access assessments are Functional Independence, Supported Independence, and Participation.

ACT WorkKeys                                                                                                                                            ACT WorkKeys is a job skills assessment designed to measure the workplace skills important in job performance.  Students can earn a National Career Readiness Certificate by achieving a Level Score of 3 or better on all three WorkKeys assessments:  Applied Math, Workplace Documents, Graphic Literacy.

WIDA ACCESS for ELLs                                                                                                                              The WIDA ACCESS for ELLs suite of assessments measure English language proficiency for Kindergarten through 12th-grade students who have been identified as English learners (ELs).  The assessments are given annually in Michigan to monitor students' progress in acquiring academic English.

Michigan Department of Education Resource:  Michigan's Education Assessment System: What it Is, What It Means, And What It Offers.                                                                       

What Parents Should Know About Assessments

National Assessments

NAEP                                                                                                                                                              The state of Michigan participates in the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), otherwise known as the Nation's Report Card, which informs the public about the academic achievement of elementary and secondary students in the United States.  NAEP is different from our state assessments because it is a common measure of mathematics, reading, and science achievement nationwide.  Occasionally, schools are selected to participate in NAEP testing.  NAEP results for students, schools, or districts are not released, but the information is used to help inform decisions about how to improve the education system in our country.  The following Frequently Asked Questions Guide will provide you with some basic information about how NAEP works.