Carey M. Wright, Ed.D., State Superintendent of Education
Office of Communications & Legislative Support
Patrice Guilfoyle, APR, Director of Communications *601-359-3706 *FAX: 601-359-3033
Jean Cook, Communications Specialist *601-359-3519
NEWS RELEASE
For Immediate Release: September 17, 2015
Board Approves Combined Minimum Score for Tests Required for
Graduation
JACKSON, Miss. – The Mississippi Board of Education today approved the combined
minimum score for the four exams in the Subject Area Test Program (SATP) that are
required for graduation. Seniors in the 2015-2016 school year who don’t pass all of the
required exams may use the combined minimum score to apply for graduation.
All students are required to take end-of-course exams in Algebra I, Biology I, English II,
and U.S. History in order to graduate. If they don’t pass all four tests, students may seek
alternative options to graduate as outlined in State Board Policy 3803 and 3804.
The approved combined minimum score for the four required SATP exams is 646. This
score is the average passing score of all four SATP exams, adjusted for error. The
combined minimum score for seniors who took the PARCC versions of the Algebra I
and/or English II tests during the 2014-2015 school year will be available in early 2016.
The combined minimum score option may only be used by seniors in the 2015-2016
school year who fail one or more of the exams required for graduation.
Seniors in the 2015-2016 school year are also offered the option of using their SATP
exam score with the applicable course grade to qualify for graduation, as specified in
State Board Policy 3803. Students may use this option if their course grade and test
score, when evaluated together, demonstrate adequate mastery of course content. A
concordance table is used to calculate the SATP test score with the course grade.
Districts will be provided with concordance tables for the PARCC versions of the Algebra
I and English II tests in early 2016. Districts may continue to use the 2015 concordance
table for students who took the SATP2 version of any of the four exams.
Central High School Building  359 North West Street  P.O. Box 771  Jackson, MS 39205-0771
Carey M. Wright, Ed.D., State Superintendent of Education
Office of Communications & Legislative Support
Patrice Guilfoyle, APR, Director of Communications *601-359-3706 *FAX: 601-359-3033
Jean Cook, Communications Specialist *601-359-3519
Beginning with school year 2016-2017, students who enroll in Algebra I, Biology I,
English II, and U.S. History for the first time will have their end-of-course test scores
incorporated into their final course grade. The exams will constitute 25% of the final
grade.
For graduation purposes, seniors in the 2015-2016 school year who did not pass a
required end-of-course test in 2014-2015 will be eligible to retake the test in the fall.
All graduation options are as follows:
Students may graduate by passing the course and meeting one of the following options:
1. Pass the applicable end-of-course Subject Area Test
2. Use the end-of-course Subject Area Test score with the overall course grade (Starting
in the 2016-2017 school year, SATP scores will constitute 25 percent of the final
grade for students enrolled for the first time in the applicable course.)
3. Obtain a score of 17 or higher in the specific subject area on the ACT.
4. Earn a C or higher in an entry level, credit-bearing dual enrollment/dual credit
/college credit course.
5. Obtain an Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB) AFQT (Armed
Forces Qualification Test) score of 36 plus one of the following:
1) Earn a CPAS (Career Planning and Assessment System) score that meets the
attainment level assigned by Federal Perkins requirements.
2) Earn an approved Industry Certification as specified in the Career Pathway’s
Assessment Blueprint and outlined in Appendix A-5 in the current edition of
the Mississippi Public School Accountability Standards.
6. Obtain the Silver Level on the ACT WorkKeys plus one of the following:
Central High School Building  359 North West Street  P.O. Box 771  Jackson, MS 39205-0771
Carey M. Wright, Ed.D., State Superintendent of Education
Office of Communications & Legislative Support
Patrice Guilfoyle, APR, Director of Communications *601-359-3706 *FAX: 601-359-3033
Jean Cook, Communications Specialist *601-359-3519
1) Earn a CPAS (Career Planning and Assessment System) score that meets the
attainment level assigned by Federal Perkins requirements.
2) Earn an approved Industry Certification as specified in the Career Pathway’s
Assessment Blueprint and in Appendix A-5 in the current edition of the Mississippi
Public School Accountability Standards.
Additional information about the graduation options can be found
at www.mde.k12.ms.us/3804.
Central High School Building  359 North West Street  P.O. Box 771  Jackson, MS 39205-0771
Carey M. Wright, Ed.D., State Superintendent of Education
Office of Communications & Legislative Support
Patrice Guilfoyle, APR, Director of Communications *601-359-3706 *FAX: 601-359-3033
Jean Cook, Communications Specialist *601-359-3519
GRADUATION REQUIREMENTS AND
SUBJECT AREA TESTING PROGRAM Q&A
Do students still have to participate in all four Subject Area Testing
Program (SATP) tests in order to graduate?
Yes.
Which subjects require these tests?
Algebra I, Biology I, English II, and U.S. History.
How can SATP tests be used by seniors in 2015-2016 to qualify for
graduation?
There are three options:
1. Pass all four end-of-course SATP exams.
2. Use the SATP test score with the overall course grade to apply for graduation.
Students will qualify for this option if their course grade and test score, when
evaluated together, demonstrate adequate mastery of course content.
3. Achieve a combined minimum score of 646 on all four of their SATP tests.
Are these options retroactive?
No. This graduation option is only available to seniors who are enrolled in high school
for the 2015-2016 school year.
How will a failing score on an SATP test be used with a course grade to
determine whether a high school senior qualifies to graduate?
A concordance table is used to calculate the SATP test score with the course grade. The
MDE provides school leaders with the tools to make these calculations for each of the
four SATP tests.
Central High School Building  359 North West Street  P.O. Box 771  Jackson, MS 39205-0771
Carey M. Wright, Ed.D., State Superintendent of Education
Office of Communications & Legislative Support
Patrice Guilfoyle, APR, Director of Communications *601-359-3706 *FAX: 601-359-3033
Jean Cook, Communications Specialist *601-359-3519
What if a student’s course grade and test score aren’t high enough to qualify
the student for graduation?
The student may pursue one of the other previously approved alternative graduation
options outlined in State Board Policy 3804 (www.mde.k12.ms.us/3804) or retake the
SATP test.
Can students retake Algebra I, Biology I, English II, or U.S. History if they
have previously passed the course to attempt to get a higher grade?
No. Students may not retake courses that they have already passed and for which they
have earned credit.
How can high school seniors find out if they qualify for the SATP graduation
options?
Students should meet with their school counselors to determine whether they meet
graduation requirements.
How will the SATP policy change beginning in 2016-2017?
Starting in the 2016-2017 school year, SATP test scores will constitute 25 percent of a
student’s final grade in the applicable course. This policy will affect every student who
enrolls in Algebra I, Biology I, English II, and U.S. History for the first time in 20162017 and thereafter.
Why do students take these tests?
The tests measure what students are learning and provide feedback to parents, students
and teachers about student progress and mastery. The tests also help demonstrate
students qualify for graduation and are used to help evaluate the quality of schools.
Will SATP scores still be a factor in the state accountability model?
Yes. There will be no changes to how SATP scores are used to determine school and
district grades as part of the state accountability model.
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Central High School Building  359 North West Street  P.O. Box 771  Jackson, MS 39205-0771