Create Model Cornerstone Assessment

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Model Cornerstone Assessments (MCAs) are sample benchmark assessments that accompany the National Core Arts Standards. This column will examine the Create MCA. The Create artist process asks students to compose musical works with intention, and the MCA gives a sample assessment task to measure the Create standards. This column explores the makeup of the MCA document, looks at pre-knowledge requirements and cultural bias in the assessment, and then proposes ways that teachers can modify the assessment to better serve their learners and classroom environments.