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<TITLE>PAAP Writing Assessment Cancelled for Grades 5 and 8</TITLE>
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<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">IMPORTANT UPDATE</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">…</FONT></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B></B></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><B></B></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">Due to State budgetary considerations, it has been decided to cancel the Writing assessment for grades 5 and 8 in both the MEA and the PAAP. As of this time, this affects the 2008-2009 academic year only. Please do not submit any Writing tasks with your students' portfolios.</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">Please note:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><I></I></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><I> <FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">This change does not affect the assessment for students in grade 11</FONT></I></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial"> (third year of high school). Writing is still being assessed as part of the MHSA, which is administered to students at that grade level, and therefore will remain in the PAAP for grade 11 students. All PAAPs for students in grade 11 should include the requisite number of Writing tasks.</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">For more information, please visit the PAAP Updates page of our website:</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN><A HREF="http://www.maine.gov/education/lsalt/paap/updates/index.htm"><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial">http://www.maine.gov/education/lsalt/paap/updates/index.htm</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">If you have any questions regarding this change, please feel free to contact us:</FONT></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">Kim Schroeter at 624-6774</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN><A HREF="mailto:kimberly.schroeter@maine.gov"><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial">kimberly.schroeter@maine.gov</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
<P DIR=LTR><SPAN LANG="en-us"><FONT COLOR="#000000" FACE="Arial">Peter Bernard at 624-6678,</FONT></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"> </SPAN><A HREF="mailto:peter.bernard@maine.gov"><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"><U><FONT COLOR="#0000FF" FACE="Arial">peter.bernard@maine.gov</FONT></U></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></A><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN><SPAN LANG="en-us"></SPAN></P>
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