Performance in Science on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments

Title:	Performance in Science on the Minnesota Comprehensive Assessments–Series II for Students in Grades 5 and 8
Description:	This report examines how grade 5 and grade 8 student achievement on the 2009/10 MCA–II science assessment differed by student and school characteristics (gender, eligibility for free or reduced-price lunch, special education status, race/ethnicity, and prior-year academic achievement). The study found that most of the variation in scores was associated with demographic differences among students rather than with differences between schools. Key findings include: Student achievement on the MCA–II science assessment differed across demographic subgroups, favoring male students, students not eligible for free or reduced-price lunch, non–special education students, and White students. After accounting for student characteristics, science achievement tended to be higher in schools with a smaller percentage of students eligible for free or reduced-price lunch and a larger percentage of White students. No school characteristics based on teacher composition were related to student science achievement after accounting for other student and school characteristics.
Online Availability:	Download, view and print the report as a pdf file. (884KB) Download, view and print the report summary as a pdf file. (343KB)
Cover Date:	April 2012
Web Release:	April 25, 2012
Publication #:	REL 2012138
Center/Program:	REL
Authors:	Chris Condon, Ryan Williams, Ariela Greenberg, R. Dean Gerdeman, Jennifer Stephan, Ayrin Molefe, and Arie van der Ploeg
Type of Product:	Issues and Answers Report
Keywords:	Achievement (Student) • science Assessment Performance Students Testing • standardized tests
Questions:	For questions about the content of this Issues and Answers Report, please contact: Erin Pollard.