Reps. Sak, Palmer, Hopgood, Accavitti, Anderson, Angerer, Ball, Bieda, Brandenburg, Brown, Byrnes, Caul, Donigan, Farrah, Gillard, Gleason, Gonzales, Hildenbrand, Kooiman, Leland, Lemmons, III, Lemmons, Jr., Lipsey, Miller, Plakas, Polidori, Proos, Shaffer, Alma Smith, Spade, Taub, Tobocman, Vagnozzi, Vander Veen, Waters, Wojno and Zelenko offered the following resolution:

            House Resolution No. 142.

            A resolution to urge the Michigan Department of Education to ensure that school districts and students are not penalized because of problems with the distribution of MEAP test materials.

            Whereas, Educational testing in Michigan originated with the Michigan Educational Assessment Program (MEAP), which was established in 1969 pursuant to 1969 PA 307.  This act required the Department of Education to design an assessment tool to provide education officials, parents, and policymakers with data on the application of knowledge.  For decades, the MEAP has been the means by which we determine if our young people have the skills that are essential for continued educational development and success in the job market; and

            Whereas, Clearly, the MEAP is a key to assessing educational outcomes and developing our state's model core curriculum.  In October 2005, however, school officials across the state opened their MEAP testing packets and discovered that they had received incomplete or incorrect testing materials; and

            Whereas, Indeed, delays associated with the incomplete or incorrect testing materials could have significant ramifications for federal No Child Left Behind requirements, pupil eligibility for advanced placement opportunities, and any number of academic and curricula initiatives.  It is imperative that the MEAP errors have as little harm as possible on our schools, pupils, and families; now, therefore, be it

            Resolved by the House of Representatives, That we urge the Michigan Department of Education to ensure that school districts and students are not penalized because of problems with the  distribution of MEAP test materials; and be it further

            Resolved, That copies of this resolution be transmitted to the Michigan Department of Education and the Superintendent of Public Instruction.