Maine Science Assessment

ME Science Zendesk: A one-stop resource for video tutorials, document downloads, request help forms, and FAQs.

For District and School Assessment Coordinators

• Understanding and Utilizing Maine Science Assessment Reports Webinar Recording
• Understanding and Utilizing Maine Science Assessment Reports Webinar Slides

For Proctors

• Spring 2026 Proctor Training Video — Required for ALL Proctors | Transcript
• Assessment Security Webisodes
• Assessment Administration Manual

For Technology Coordinators

• Transition to TestNav Secure Browser
• Download TestNav

For Students and Families

• Practice Assessments and Tutorials
• Student Practice Portal

A Framework for K-12 Science Education: Practices, Crosscutting Concepts, and Core Ideas

Maine Learning Results in Science & Engineering, heavily adapted from the Next Generation Science Standards

Assessment Blueprints

All items on the Maine Science Assessment are aligned to a science topic and to a specific performance expectation. The blueprint specifies targets for the minimum and maximum number of operational score points aligned to each topic.

• Grade 5 Blueprint
• Grade 8 Blueprint
• High School Blueprint

Achievement Level Descriptors (ALDs)

The ALDs describe the four levels of achievement on the Maine Science Assessment: Well Below, Below, At, and Above State Expectations. They are aligned with the Next Generation Science Standards.

• Maine Science ALDs Explanatory Video
• Grade 5 ALDs | Grade 8 ALDs | High School ALDs

Released Items

Released items are test questions that are no longer in use and have been made available to the public. The "For Students" copy resembles a test booklet. The "For Teachers" version contains the answer key, standards alignment, and rubrics for constructed-response questions.

The New Meridian Framework for Quality Review of NGSS Science Assessment Items

A Framework to Evaluate Cognitive Complexity in Science Assessments

• Accessibility Guide
• Supplemental Guidance for Text-to-Speech
• Request Form for Paper-Based Assessments (Standard & Large Print)
• Braille needs: contact Krista Averill at Krista.Averill@maine.gov

Bilingual Word-to-Word Glossaries

A paper-based bilingual word-to-word glossary without definitions is an acceptable designated support for multilingual learners with an Individual Language Acquisition Plan (ILAP).

Grades 5 & 8: If the student is already using a paper-based bilingual glossary in the classroom, that glossary can be utilized for the assessment. If the student has been using an online bilingual glossary and needs a paper-based option, NYU Steinhardt's Bilingual Glossaries is a potential resource.

High School: If the student is already using a paper-based bilingual glossary in the classroom, that glossary can be utilized for the assessment. If the student needs a paper-based option: Arabic | Chinese | French | Kinyarwanda | Lingala | Portuguese | Somali | Spanish | Vietnamese

Accommodations Protocols

• Human Reader Protocol
• Scribing Protocol

Unique Accommodations

The Maine Department of Education Assessment Team has an established process for approving student use of unique accommodations on statewide assessments. In the rare event that a student with a disability, including any student identified as a multilingual learner, requires an accommodation not included in the standard accommodation list within the Accessibility Guide, the item is deemed a unique accommodation. As with any standard accommodation, a unique accommodation may not change the construct being measured by the assessment.

Unique Accommodation Request Form

Kite Reporting Platform

• Kite Reporting Platform Guide
• Kite Service Desk: Kite-support@ku.edu | (855) 277-9752

• Score Interpretation Guide
• Understanding and Utilizing Maine Science Assessment Reports Webinar | Slides
• Standard Setting Report — the process by which cut scores between achievement levels are determined

Grade 5: English | Arabic | Chinese | French | Kinyarwanda | Lingala | Portuguese | Somali | Spanish | Vietnamese

Grade 8: English | Arabic | Chinese | French | Kinyarwanda | Lingala | Portuguese | Somali | Spanish | Vietnamese

High School: English | Arabic | Chinese | French | Kinyarwanda | Lingala | Portuguese | Somali | Spanish | Vietnamese

If you are a Maine parent/guardian with an exceptionality who requires an alternate format to access any of the above resources, please reach out to Assessment Team Office Specialist, Daniella Crone, at Daniella.Crone@maine.gov.

A Tale of Three Assessments: What are the similarities and differences between the Maine Science Assessment, the multiple administrations of the Maine Through Year Assessment, and NWEA's MAP Growth assessment?

Spring 2024 Maine Science Assessment Technical Report: Details test design and development, assessment administration, item-level scoring, classical item analysis, calibration and scaling, reliability, score reporting, validity, and student performance. Note: Proprietary information and personally identifiable information have been redacted.