Assessment/Accountability MCAS
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

Schedule for Reporting of 2006 MCAS and AYP Results for Schools and Districts and Reporting MCAS and AYP Data Discrepancies

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide you with a schedule for:

1. the release of final 2006 MCAS results
2. the release of school and district AYP results
3. reporting 2006 MCAS and AYP discrepancies

As you know, the Department introduced new Mathematics tests (grades 3, 5, and 7) and new ELA Language and Literature tests (grades 5, 6, and 8) in spring 2006 in response to the federal NCLB Law. This summer, as one of the final steps in preparing for the reporting of results, the Department is convening Massachusetts teachers and members of the community to set performance level cut scores for each of these new tests. Since the Department must complete this additional task during the summer, final results for these new MCAS tests will not be available in September, as they have been in the past.

To allow sufficient time for establishing cut scores this summer, and to simplify the reporting and distribution of final results this fall, the 2006 MCAS Parent/Guardian Reports and school and district reports for grades 3-8 will be released in October. These reports will contain grade-level results for both existing and new tests (e.g., results from the existing grade 6 Mathematics test will be reported along with results from the new grade 6 ELA Language and Literature test). Please see the list of reporting milestones    for details. Note that all reporting milestone dates are tentative.

MCAS Data Discrepancy Deadlines/Process

This year, for the first time, principals and directors of private special education schools and collaboratives will have direct access to the electronic results of students who were tested in their buildings. Beginning 24 hours after these preliminary electronic data files are available to districts, superintendents and principals will be able to view students' results through a secure Web site and report any discrepancies found in the student data.

The window for reporting discrepancies for all grades will open on August 21, the same day electronic data files are first available to superintendents and principals. Grade 10 discrepancies must be reported by the close of business Friday, August 25, in order for correct information to be included in the grade 10 Parent/Guardian Reports and school and district summary reports that will be released in September. The discrepancy window for grades 3-8 will extend through September 8. Please see the 2006 MCAS and AYP Data Review Schedule    for details.

Both the data files and discrepancy forms will be available at www.mcasservicecenter.com.

Changes in Reporting of MCAS-Alt Results

MCAS Parent/Guardian Reports will now include the performance level results for students who participated in the MCAS-Alt. School and district rosters of MCAS-Alt results will no longer be produced. Instead, performance level results will be included in Student Test Item Analysis Roster Reports.

Enclosures:

2006 MCAS and AYP Data Review Schedule     2006 MCAS and AYP Reporting Schedule