Assessments at the Clerc Center
The Clerc Center operates two accredited demonstration schools on its campus in Kendall Demonstration Elementary School (KDES) and the Model Secondary School for the Deaf (MSSD). Both schools are mandated by Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) to adhere to statewide academic standards and to participate in annual statewide assessments. However, the Clerc Center is a Federal program and does not report to a state-level department of education.
Read our 2021-2022 report cards:
The Clerc Center maintained a partnership for a number of years with the Ohio Department of Education to focus on the provision of state-level, standards-based assessments for students who are deaf or hard of hearing as stipulated by the U.S. Department of Education. After several years of partnership with Ohio ended, the Clerc Center entered into a new partnership with the Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) in 2015.
Student Assessment
Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP)
Maryland Comprehensive Assessment Program (MCAP)’s summative English language arts/literacy tests are available in grades 3-8 and high school. The assessments include a performance-based component with longer questions that usually require multiple steps. It measures critical thinking, reasoning and the ability to apply skills and knowledge in reading, writing and mathematics.
- English language arts/literacy – Students read and analyze passages from real texts — fiction and non-fiction, and sometimes watch video or listen to audio. They write, using what they have learned from the passages and multi-media to support their arguments. These skills are critically important for students in college and in the workplace. MCAP measures writing at every grade because it is key to showing readiness for the next academic work, and in high school, readiness for college and career.
- Mathematics – Students solve multi-step math problems that require reasoning and address real-world situations. This requires students to reason mathematically, make sense of quantities and their relationships to solve real-world problems, and show their understanding. Many previous assessments focused mostly on rote procedure only.
Science – Maryland Integrated Science Assessments (MISA) Assessment
Students at the Clerc Center will participate with Maryland students in taking the Maryland Integrated Science Assessment (MISA) in science grades 5, 8, and high school.
Multi-State Alternate Assessment (MSAA)
The Multi State Alternate Assessment (MSAA) is also offered in grades 3-8 and 11 for students in with the most significant cognitive disabilities who are unable to participate in the MCAP assessment, even with accommodations. The alternate assessment is based on alternate achievement standards (AA-AAS) in English language arts and mathematics.
The Alternate Maryland School Assessment – Science (Alt-MSA) is offered in grades 5, 8, and 10 for students with significant cognitive disabilities who are unable to participate in the Maryland School Assessment in science, even with accommodations.
How Do the New Assessments Differ from the Old Assessments
The new assessments are designed to measure the full range of the CCSS, NGSS and full continuum of student abilities, including the performance of high and low performing students. The MCAP assessments will test writing skills at every grade level and critical thinking and problem solving skills in an in-depth manner. The assessments feature a mix of items–short answer, longer open response questions, richer multiple choice items, as well as technology-enhanced items, to better reflect the full range of content and skills found in the CCSS. The computer-based assessments will produce timely snapshots of student knowledge, giving parents and students richer information, and teachers the opportunity to adjust instruction to better support student learning.
