Assessment/Accountability
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

Requirements for the Participation of Students with Disabilities in MCAS
Spring 2003 Update

January 2003

Dear Colleagues:

In preparation for the spring 2003 MCAS tests, I am pleased to provide an updated version of the publication, Requirements for the Participation of Students with Disabilities in MCAS   . This publication presents guidelines to educators and parents in making appropriate MCAS participation decisions for students with disabilities and describes commonly-used test accommodations.

I would like to take this opportunity to remind IEP Teams to identify accommodations for each student carefully, and to select only those that are believed to be essential in providing him or her access to MCAS tests. As a reminder, test accommodations may only be identified by the IEP Team, rather than by any individual, and may be administered only after the parent signs the IEP. Accommodations that are identified for each student must be those that are generally consistent with those used during routine instruction and assessment in that content area. I am particularly concerned that non-standard accommodations, such as reading aloud the ELA Language and Literature tests to a student, be used only when absolutely necessary and only when a student already receives this accommodation during his or her instruction.

I applaud your efforts to provide students with disabilities an educational program based on the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks, and commend you for the work you do to educate all students in the Commonwealth.

If you need additional information, please contact my staff in the Student Assessment Services unit by phone at (781) 338-3625 or by email at mcas@doe.mass.edu.

Sincerely,

David P. Driscoll
Commissioner of Education