RUMFORD – Superintendent Jim Hodgkin feels a bit better about the Scholastic Aptitude Test replacing the Maine Educational Assessment after listening to Department of Education Commissioner Susan Gendron.
Hodgkin, at an SAD 43 board meeting Monday night, said the change in testing for 11th-graders has more potentially positive aspects than negative effects.
“My biggest objection had been that it is taken on a Saturday and 95 percent of students must take the test,” he told the board.
He has since learned that statewide, 75 percent of juniors take the test voluntarily, and the test can be made up if a student misses the assigned date.
He has also learned of some benefits.
Because the MEA is given over a period of several days, students have been losing out on classes. Now, with the SAT given on a Saturday, those days will be regained.
“The high school will gain educational time back and there’s a higher level of buy-in,” he said.
Students realize they need SAT scores as part of their college application procedure. He said juniors didn’t always take the MEA seriously.
“The SATs align fairly well with the Maine Learning Results,” he added.
For students, taking the test will cost them nothing because the state will pick up the tab. Students are allowed to take it several times if they are aiming for higher scores. The first time is free, while the fee for subsequent tests will be charged to the student.
Mountain Valley High School has always been a testing site for the SAT, so students are familiar with it, he added.
Fewer subjects are tested on the SAT than the MEA. Right now, the SAT tests reading, writing and mathematics, while the MEA includes science as well.
But that may change, said Hodgkin. Plans are in the works for a science component to be added, he said.
Principal Matthew Gilbert said all MVHS juniors have been registered to take the SAT on April 1.
The results will be returned quicker than in the past, said Hodgkin. Students will know their scores within three weeks of testing.
In other matters on Monday, Gilbert said a Student of the Month designation has been established at the high school. One student will be chosen from among ninth- and 10th-graders, and a second from 11th- and 12th-graders.
After the public portion of the meeting, the board entered into three closed sessions. Hodgkin said no votes or decisions would be made. The board entered the sessions to discuss possible litigation, to discuss the superintendent’s contract, and to deal with a personnel matter.
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