Maine Department of Education - Informational Letter 96: Summary of Answers and Skills Workshop

INFORMATIONAL LETTER: #96
POLICY CODE: ILB

TO: Superintendents, Curriculum Coordinators, High School Principals, High School Guidance Counselors, AP Coordinators, English Department Chairs, and Math Department Chairs

FROM: Susan A. Gendron, Commissioner

DATE: April 9, 2007

RE: Summary of Answers and Skills Workshop

Last October, sophomores and juniors in larger numbers than ever, took the PSAT in the State of Maine. This test is much more than a test that students take because of college; it is a test that can provide invaluable information about your curriculum and your students’ progress toward meeting the Maine Learning Results. It can also be used to help identify students that have the potential to be successful in Advanced Placement courses.

Thus, in order to make this statewide effort useful to you, your school, and to your students, the Maine Department of Education and the College Board will host three regional workshops on using the PSAT data to make a difference in our schools. The following sessions will be held:

April 26, 2007 - Holiday Inn, Odlin Rd., Bangor 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

April 27, 2007 - Holiday Inn, Saco 8:30 am – 11:30 am

April 27, 2007 - ATM Broadcast Live, Cross Bldg., Augusta 1:00 pm – 4:00 pm

Each school that participated in the PSAT/NMSQT administration offered through the Maine Department of Education in October, 2006 is invited to the Summary of Answers and Skills Workshop provided by the College Board. This workshop is designed to provide valuable content information that can be used to support academic planning and advising, guidance, and the targeting of instruction that is aligned with the State standards.

During this workshop, schools will receive:

School-level feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of their students;
School-level feedback on the strengths and weaknesses of instructional programming on a number of college success skills;
Demonstration of AP Potential Software that is designed to assist schools in additional ways to identify potential students for advanced programming in preparation for college success; and
An analysis of each grade’s performance on every question on the PSAT/NMSQT.

Each school participating should come with an instructional team that has representation from school/school administrative unit administration, teacher leaders (especially English and Math), a guidance counselor, and a school improvement team member.

Each school MUST download its own Summary of Answers and Skills (SOAS) Reports for each grade level and bring copies for its team to the meeting.

Letters were sent via 1st class mail to school principals with access code information to SOAS from the College Board.
An email was also sent to all PSAT/NMSQT coordinators with notification that access information for SOAS had been sent to school principals by College Board.

To register for the above workshops, please forward the bottom portion via email or fax to Nancy Lamontagne at (207) 624-6821 or nancy.a.lamontagne@maine.gov

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Name/s:
_______________________________________________________________________

School Administrative Unit:
_______________________________________________________________________

School:
_______________________________________________________________________

Phone:
_______________________________________________________________________

Email:
_______________________________________________________________________

Location / Circle one: Bangor Saco Augusta

-0r- Alternate ATM site from which to listen to Augusta broadcast:

_______________________________________________________________________
(April 27, 1:00-4:00 p.m. only)