Missouri MAP tests replaced by high-stakes senior final

Plagued for years by the problem of high school students who do not try on the MAP tests because their grades are not affected by them, the State Board of Education voted this week to head in a different direction.
The board authorized bids for high-stakes exit tests for seniors in algebra, English and biology for 2009:

While the details are to be worked out later, education staff proposed that students' performance on the new exams should count for at least 10 percent of their final grades, with districts able to give the tests more weight.