The Maryland School Assessment (MSA) is a test of reading, math, and science achievement. This test provides educators, parents, and the public valuable information about student, school, school system, and state performance.

MSA: Maryland School Assessment

What is MSA?

Some Facts about MSA:

The test meets the requirements of the federal No Child Left Behind Act.
The test assesses the Maryland content standards in mathematics, reading, and science.
The reading and mathematics tests are administered annually to students in grades 3 through 8. The science test is administered annually in grades 5 and 8.
MSA scores will show how well Maryland children have learned the reading, mathematics, and science skills specified in the Voluntary State Curriculum (VSC).
The test includes both selected response (multiple-choice) and brief constructed response items.

"The Maryland School Assessment will fulfill recommendations made by a state panel of parents, legislators, educators, and business and community leaders (the Visionary Panel for Better Schools) and will also meet the new federal testing requirements of President Bush's No Child Left Behind Act. It will launch a new decade of progress for our students" Nancy S. Grasmick
State Superintendent of Schools

What does MSA look like?

Science Public Release Items

The first Science MSA was administered in 2007 to grades 5 and 8. One test form was released to the public. The released test items consist of selected response (multiple choice) and brief constructed response items.

View the 2007 MSA Assessment (PDF)
Grade 5 All Sessions (Session 1, Session 2, Session 3, Session 4)
Grade 8 All Sessions (Session 1, Session 2, Session 3, Session 4)

View the 2007 Answer Key
Grade 5 8

Practice Taking the 2008 Assessment
Pearson Educational Measurement Solutions

Reading Public Release Items and Student Responses

The Maryland State Department of Education (MSDE) has released literary and informational passages with related test items from the 2003 administration of the reading MSA to provide students, teachers, and the public examples of how students are being assessed. The released test items consist of selected response (multiple choice) and brief constructed response items.

Grades: 3 4 5 6 7 8

Reading Sample Items

MSDE has also provided examples of items similar to the assessed items on MSA.

Grades:3 4 5 6 7 8

Mathematics Sample Items

MSDE has also provided examples of items similar to the assessed items on MSA.

Grades:3 4 5 6 7 8

Internet Safety

National PTA Message on Internet Safety

Media messages from television, movies, music, and the Internet are a daily part of our children's lives. While electronic media can open up new worlds of rich learning experiences to children, they can also convey messages about violence, sex, commercialism, stereotyping, and other themes that worry parents. When children are exposed to images and messages they do not understand and are unable to interpret, parents will want to intervene.

For example, when children see smoking, drinking, and drug use in the media, parents will want talk about it with their children and guide them in taking a critical look at how cigarettes, alcohol, and other drugs are portrayed.

The following are some resources and suggestions on how parents can protect their children from harmful topics conveyed through electronic media

Link: National PTA Website

The 5 Websites High School Students Should Know About

Top 10 Web sites for students

Teach your children how to surf for credible sources on the Internet

This page was last modified on Tuesday, July 28, 2009 04:57:34 AM