[Massachusetts Department of Education (MCAS) logo]

Test
Administrator’s 
Manual:
High School 
U.S. History
May 2008

Massachusetts Department of Education

[Massachusetts Department of Education star logo]

This document was prepared by the 
Massachusetts Department of Education
Jeffrey Nellhaus
Acting Commissioner of Education

The Massachusetts Department of Education, an affirmative action employer, is committed to ensuring that all of its 
programs and facilities are accessible to all members of the public. We do not discriminate on the basis of 
age, color, disability, national origin, race, religion, sex or sexual orientation.  
Inquiries regarding the Department’s compliance with Title IX and other civil rights laws may be directed to the 
Human Resources Director, 350 Main St., Malden, MA 02148  781-338-6105.

© 2008 Massachusetts Department of Education
Permission is hereby granted to copy for non-commercial educational purposes any or all parts of this document. 
Please credit the “Massachusetts Department of Education.”

Massachusetts Department of Education
350 Main Street, Malden, MA 02148-5023
Phone 781-338-3000  TTY: N.E.T. Relay 800-439-2370
www.doe.mass.edu

[Massachusetts State Seal]


Important Contact Information
MCAS Test Administration Information:
MCAS Service Center
800-737-5103
Hours of Operation
Monday–Friday: 7:00 a.m.–5:00 p.m.

MCAS Policy Information:
Massachusetts Department of Education
Student Assessment Services Unit
Web: www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/2008/admin
E-mail: mcas@doe.mass.edu
Phone: 781-338-3625

Grades 10 and 11 Test Administration Schedule
Subject	Number of Sessions^1	2008 Administration Dates^2	Session Length
U.S. History	2	May 23–29	60 minutes
		(including make-up tests)	
 

Notes: 
^1.	If possible, each test session should be administered simultaneously to all students in the tested grade(s) in a school. If simultaneous administration is not possible, each test must be administered to all students in the tested grade(s) in a school on the same day.
^2. 	The U.S. History test must be administered after the grade 10 Mathematics test.
NOTE: Review this manual before the Test Administrators’ Meeting with your school principal.

Part I	MCAS Test Security Requirements. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .1
A.	Responsibilities of Test Administrators to Ensure the Confidentiality
of Test Booklets, Answer Booklets, Test Questions, and Student Responses. . . . . . . . 2
B.	Responsibilities of Test Administrators When Supervising 
Test Sessions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .3
C.	Responsibilities of Test Administrators When Providing Test Accommodations. . . . 5
D.	Examples of Testing Irregularities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
E.	Investigations into Testing Irregularities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 
F.	Following a Document Tracking System. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
G.	Approved and Unapproved Resource Materials. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
Part II	2008 MCAS Test Administration Policies. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .11
A.	Testing Time. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
B.	Test Administration Interruptions. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12
C.	Damaged or Defective Answer Booklets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .12
D.	Administering Accommodated Tests. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .13
Part III	Tasks to Complete Prior to Test Administration. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .15
A.	Meet with School Principal. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .16
B.	Prepare the Testing Space. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
C.	Complete Front Covers of Answer Booklets. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .17
Part IV	Administering the Practice Test. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19
Part V	Administering the U.S. History Test Session 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21
A.	Materials Needed for Session 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .22
B.	Before Students Arrive.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
C.	As Students Arrive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23 
D.	Administer Session 1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .23
E.	End of Session 1 Responsibilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
Part VI	Administering the U.S. History Test Session 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
A.	Materials Needed for Session 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .30
B.	Before Students Arrive.. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
C.	As Students Arrive. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
D.	Administer Session 2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .31
E.	End of Session 2 Responsibilities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 34
Appendix A 		Procedures for Administering the Braille Edition of the Test. . . . .35
Appendix B 	Procedures for Administering the Large-Print Edition of the Test. . . . . .37
Appendix C 		Procedures for Signing the Test for Students Who Are 
	Deaf or Hard of Hearing. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
Appendix D 	Procedures for Typed Responses. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .43
Appendix E	Approval of Bilingual Dictionaries. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .47

Part I
MCAS Test Security Requirements

Principals are responsible for ensuring that all test administrators comply with the requirements and instructions contained in the Test Administrator’s Manuals. In addition, other administrators, educators, and staff within the school are responsible for complying with the same requirements. Schools and school staff who violate the test security requirements are subject to the sanctions and penalties outlined in this section, including employment consequences, delays in reporting of test results, the invalidation of test results, the removal of school personnel from future MCAS administrations, and possible license consequences for licensed educators.
Each person directly involved in MCAS test administrations is directly responsible for immediately reporting any violation or suspected violation of test security to the school principal, the district superintendent, or the Department of Education.

The purpose of the MCAS Test Security Requirements is to protect the validity of Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) results.  
For the purposes of this section and this manual, “secure” test materials refers to a test question, student response, or test that has not been made available to the public by the Department. 
A.	Responsibilities of Test Administrators to Ensure the Confidentiality of Test Booklets, Answer Booklets, Test Questions, and Student Responses
NOTE: All test booklets and answer booklets are secure test materials. All booklets provided to you by your principal must be returned upon completion of testing, according to the requirements below.
1.	All test questions and student responses to those questions are confidential and must be kept secure at all times. Prior to the reporting of student results, the Department releases to the public those questions on which student results are based. School personnel may use those released items for instructional or professional development purposes.
2.	No test administrator or other school personnel may view the contents of test or answer booklets before, during, or after a test administration (except when necessary for specified accommodations) unless specifically directed to do so by the instructions in the Test Administrator’s Manual.
3.	No test administrator or other school personnel may reveal the secure contents of test booklets or answer verbally or nonverbally any question that relates to the secure content of a test before, during, or after a test administration unless specifically authorized to do so by the instructions in the Test Administrator’s Manual.
4.	No test administrator or other school personnel may provide students access to secure test items prior to testing.
5.	No test administrator or other school personnel may duplicate any portion of test or answer booklets, including but not limited to audiotaping, videotaping, photographing, photocopying, and copying by hand. The only exceptions are for test administrators who must transcribe student responses into answer booklets for students with disabilities receiving certain accommodations or for students who did some or all of their work in damaged, defective, or void booklets.
6.	No test administrator or other school personnel may retain, discard, recycle, remove, or destroy test materials of any kind without the prior approval of the Department or unless instructed to do so according to the instructions in the Principal’s Administration Manual.
7.	If a test booklet or answer booklet becomes contaminated, the principal or other school personnel must contact the Department of Education immediately. The Department will provide a list of information that the school must record (including the student’s name, grade level and content area, and the booklet’s serial number) before the booklet can be properly destroyed at the school site.
8.	No test administrator or other school personnel may review student responses during or after a test administration. 
9.	No test administrator or other school personnel shall disclose any portion of secure test materials or discuss the contents of secure questions with students (except during testing when necessary for specified accommodations), parents, teachers, other educators, or community members before, during, or after testing.
B.	Responsibilities of Test Administrators When Supervising Test Sessions
1.	Test administrators are responsible for administering all tests according to the directions in the Test Administrator’s Manuals and any subsequent updates provided to principals by the Department.
2.	Test administrators are responsible for removing or covering any classroom displays that provide information related to the content being assessed or to test-taking strategies. Examples include but are not limited to alphabet charts, posters, maps, charts, graphic organizers, word lists, number lines, multiplication tables, definitions, writing formulas, and mathematical formulas/theorems.
3.	Test administrators are responsible for focusing their full attention on the testing environment at all times during the test administration. Test administrators should continually monitor the testing process by moving unobtrusively about the room.

4.	No test administrator may leave students unsupervised during testing.
5.	No test administrator or other school personnel may permit the use of any supplemental or reference sheet that is not specifically allowed by the Department.
6.	Test administrators are responsible for ensuring that students provide answers that are strictly their own; do not participate in any form of cheating; do not consult notes, textbooks, or other teaching materials; do not share test questions with other students; and do not consult other students, staff, or anyone else accessible to them during the test administration.
7.	No test administrator or other school personnel may provide a student with the answer to any unreleased test question or make any suggestion as to how to respond to a test question at any time, whether before, during, or after a test administration. This prohibition includes provisions of clues, hints, and/or actual answers in any written, printed, verbal, and/or nonverbal form (including chalkboards, charts, and bulletin boards).
8.	No test administrator or other school personnel may coach a student during testing or alter or interfere with a student’s responses in any way. Examples of coaching include, but are not limited to, the following: providing answers to a student; changing a student’s responses; providing synonyms for unknown words; influencing a student’s responses by offering hints, clues, cues, facial expressions, nods, voice inflections; or providing any other manner of assistance that could impact a student’s answers. Suggesting to a student that he/she write more on an open-response question or reconsider or review a question constitutes coaching.
9.	No test administrator or other school personnel may make answer keys available 
to students.
10.	A student’s responses to test questions must represent the student’s own independent and unaided thinking and must not be read, reviewed, or changed during testing by anyone other than the student being tested. A student’s responses may not be reviewed or changed by anyone after testing. A student may not be asked or permitted to go back to any test session after his or her test and answer booklets have been collected.
11.	No test administrator or other school personnel may change a student’s answers to test questions whether by providing hints or clues during a test administration, correcting wrong answers during a test administration, or erasing or correcting answers or responses recorded/selected by the student.
12.	No test administrator or other school personnel may attempt to score unreleased test questions formally or informally for any purpose.
13.	No test administrator or other school personnel may participate in, direct, aid, counsel, assist in, encourage, or fail to report any of the acts prohibited in this section.
C.	Responsibilities of Test Administrators When Providing Test Accommodations
1.	Test administrators must follow proper procedures for providing testing accommodations as prescribed in Appendix B of the Principal’s Administration Manual and in Requirements for the Participation of Students with Disabilities in MCAS.
2.	Test administrators who provide accommodations to students may not alter, explain, simplify, paraphrase, or eliminate any test question, reading passage, writing prompt, or multiple-choice answer option.
3.	Test administrators who provide accommodations to students may not provide verbal or other clues or suggestions that hint at or give away the correct response to the students.
4.	Test administrators are prohibited from providing a student with accommodations that were not approved by the student’s IEP or 504 team or that are not listed as approved in Appendix B of the Principal’s Administration Manual. Test administrators must provide required accommodations as listed in IEPs and 504 plans.
For further reference, a list of principals’ responsibilities is available in the Principal’s Administration Manual, which is posted at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/2008/admin.
D.	Examples of Testing Irregularities
Testing irregularities are incidents that represent a deviation from prescribed testing procedures. Testing irregularities may include student impropriety, test violations, educator misconduct, or the mishandling of secure test materials.
The following lists are not exhaustive, but provide examples of irregularities, and are offered as guidance to help school personnel ensure that appropriate testing procedures are followed.
1.	Student Impropriety
•	A student communicates or collaborates in any manner with another student. This includes written, electronic, verbal, or gestured forms of communication.
•	A student copies another student’s answers, or requests or accepts any help from another person.
•	A student uses any material or equipment (such as notes, a textbook, or other reference material) that is not expressly permitted by the Test Administrator’s Manual.
•	A student answers a test question for another student, or provides assistance to another student before or while that student is taking the test.
•	A student returns to a previously administered session of a test after that test session was completed.
•	A student uses an unauthorized calculator or communication or information storage device (e.g., pager, cell phone, PDA).
•	A student engages in any practice to artificially affect his or her score or the score of another student.
2.	Test Violations
•	A principal does not train all test administrators in proper MCAS procedures as identified in the Principal’s Administration Manual and in Test Administrator’s Manuals.
•	A test administrator leaves a room unsupervised when secure materials and students are present.
•	Students or secure materials are left unsupervised during a lunch break, a break taken in the testing room, or a restroom break.  
•	A student is allowed to use a dictionary (except during the ELA Composition test sessions) or a calculator during the noncalculator sessions of the Mathematics tests.
•	A student is permitted to place or receive a cell phone call or text message during a test administration.
•	A student is allowed to leave the test area with secure materials.
•	A test administrator neglects to remove classroom displays related to the content area being tested prior to testing.
•	A test administrator or other school personnel does not return secure test materials to the locked storage area at the end of each testing day.
•	A test administrator does not issue the correct materials (e.g., reference sheets, dictionaries, calculators), or allows students to use unauthorized materials.
•	Students are administered a test on the wrong day.
•	A test administrator does not read test administration scripts verbatim as required by the Test Administrator’s Manual.  
•	A student is tested with an incorrect assessment. For example:
	-A student who should participate in the MCAS Alternate Assessment is administered the standard MCAS test with or without accommodations.
	-A student is allowed an unapproved accommodation or is not provided a prescribed accommodation.
•	A test administrator who scribes or transcribes a student’s response corrects student errors and/or fails to scribe or transcribe the response verbatim without editing.
•	A test administrator does not provide a student with required accommodation(s) as listed in his or her IEP or 504 plan.
•	A test administrator provides unapproved accommodations to students.
3.	Educator Misconduct
•	A test administrator or other school personnel views a test before, during, or after testing (unless he or she is specifically authorized to do so by the instructions in the Test Administrator’s Manual).
•	A test administrator or other school personnel discusses secure test content or student responses.
•	A test administrator or other school personnel makes copies of secure materials without written permission from the Department.
•	A test administrator or other school personnel directly or indirectly assists students with responses to test questions.
•	A test administrator or other school personnel tampers with or alters student responses.
•	A test administrator removes secure materials from the school.
4.	Mishandling of Secure Test Materials
•	A test administrator or other school personnel loses or misplaces completed answer booklet(s).
•	A test administrator or other school personnel loses or does not return all secure materials.
•	An unauthorized individual (e.g., a student) transports secure test materials.
E.	Investigations into Testing Irregularities
To report testing irregularities, principals or superintendents must contact the Department of Education at 781-338-3625.
In cases where it is alleged that an MCAS administration was compromised, the Commissioner will write to the superintendent, ask that he or she conduct a local fact-finding investigation into the alleged irregularity, and require that he or she submit a written report to the Department based on the results of the investigation within an established timeline. 
After receiving the superintendent’s written investigative report, the Commissioner may request that the superintendent provide additional information or documentation prior to making a final determination on the matter and notifying the superintendent of this determination. All such correspondence is subject to disclosure under Massachusetts public records law.  
If misconduct by a licensed educator is found, the Commissioner, as the Massachusetts educator licensing authority, may open a further investigation into possible license consequences.  
Penalties for testing irregularities and/or misconduct could include the following:
•	Delay in reporting of district, school, and/or student results
•	Invalidation of district, school, and/or student results
•	Removal of school personnel from any future role in MCAS test administrations
•	Possible employment and/or license consequences for licensed educators
On occasion, the Department receives allegations of testing irregularities from individuals who do not wish to identify themselves. If the individual provides sufficient information related to the matter—including a description of the alleged incident, the name of the school involved, the name of the individual(s) committing the inappropriate practices, and the grade level(s) and specific test(s) affected—the Department will expect school district personnel to cooperate and to investigate the allegations to determine whether they can be supported.
F.	Following a Document Tracking System 
Principals must designate a locked facility for the storage of all MCAS test materials when they are not being used. Test materials must be kept secure (i.e., in a locked storage space when they are not being used) from the time your school receives them until your principal returns them as directed in this manual. 

It is the principal’s responsibility to ensure that test materials are not accessed in any way by unauthorized individuals. Under no circumstances should anyone have access to MCAS test materials other than individuals designated by the principal to be directly involved with test distribution or administration, and students during actual test administrations.
The principal will provide instructions on document tracking procedures so the location of materials not in secure storage can be determined at all times.   
Immediately report any irregularity in the use of tracking documents 
or in the information recorded on them, or any other situation that could compromise test security, to your principal.

G.	Approved and Unapproved Resource Materials 
During testing, students are permitted to use only those resource materials and tools identified as approved in this manual.  
Approved Resource Materials 
The following are approved for student use: 
•	#2 pencils*
•	pens and highlighters in test booklets only*
•	printed copies of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries for current and former LEP students only 
Bilingual Dictionaries
Any current or former LEP student may use an approved bilingual word-to-word 
dictionary during MCAS testing. Approved bilingual dictionaries are limited to those that provide word-to-word translations without definitions and that are free of handwriting. See Appendix E for further information.
Unapproved Resource Materials 
Unapproved materials include, but are not limited to, the following: 
•	English-language dictionaries
•	extra paper
•	notebooks
•	textbooks
•	cell phones
•	electronic devices (e.g., music players, PDAs, pocket translators) 
•	calculators 
•	computers 
•	editing devices (e.g., spelling or grammar checkers) 
•	graphic organizers 
•	thesauruses
•	encyclopedias 
NOTE: Students with disabilities may be allowed, under certain circumstances, to use as test accommodations certain tools and materials that are otherwise prohibited. If a student in your assigned group will use accommodations to take the test, the principal will notify you. Test accommodations must be recommended by the student’s IEP Team or 504 team and documented on the student’s answer booklet by the principal or designee.
 
*No writing instrument other than #2 pencils may be used in answer booklets.



Part II
2008 MCAS Test Administration Policies

A.	Testing Time
All MCAS test administrations are untimed.
While individual test sessions are designed to be completed within 60 minutes, some students may need more time to finish. The Department suggests that schools schedule a two-hour block for each test session. For example, if the first test session is scheduled to begin at 8:30 a.m., the second test session should be scheduled to begin no earlier than 10:30 a.m. Those students who require additional time beyond two hours may take it; however, no session may extend beyond the end of the regular school day, and any individual test session must be completed on the same day in which it begins.
During the Test Administrators’ Meeting, your principal will provide you with specific guidelines for the completion of test sessions at your school.
B.	Test Administration Interruptions
Circumstances over which you have no control (fire drills or power failures, for example) may interrupt testing. If such an interruption does occur during testing, instruct students to close their answer booklets and place them inside their test booklets. Collect and secure the booklets. In the event of an emergency, be sure to follow your school’s safety instructions. When normal conditions are restored, redistribute booklets to their original owners and resume testing. No interruption should reduce the total amount of time that students are given to complete the interrupted test session. Report any major disruptions to the Department of Education.
C.	Damaged or Defective Answer Booklets
If a student’s assigned answer booklet becomes damaged or is discovered to be defective at any time during testing, it must be replaced. In such cases: 
1.	Collect the damaged/defective booklet from the student.
2.	Issue the student a replacement answer booklet. All information on the front cover of the replacement booklet must be completed.
3.	Instruct the student to continue working in the replacement answer booklet.
4.	Fill in the VOID circle on the back cover of the student’s damaged/defective  answer booklet.
5.	Write “VOID” in large letters across the front cover.
6.	Set the void booklet aside to be returned to your principal along with the student’s replacement answer booklet at the end of the test session.
7.	Notify your principal that you are returning a damaged answer booklet. Your principal must ensure that all of the student’s answers marked in the void answer booklet are accurately transcribed into the student’s replacement booklet.
D.	Administering Accommodated Tests
Your assigned group of students may include one or more students being tested with accommodations. Your principal will provide you with instructions for testing these students. The table below shows where you can find more information about
accommodations that require administering a special version or form. 
Braille test (accommodation 12)	See Appendix A 
 
Large-print test (accommodation 11)	See Appendix B
 
Signing the test for a deaf or hard-of-hearing 
student (accommodation 17	See Appendix C 
 
Typed responses (accommodation 23)	See Appendix D 
 
Kurzweil 3000 CD (accommodation 18)	Follow the instructions in the CD
	packet you will receive.
 
Part III
Tasks to Complete Prior to Test Administration

A.	Meet with School Principal 
Your school principal will schedule a meeting with all test administrators to explain the test administration procedures that will be followed at your school. Read this manual before the meeting. The following is a partial list of essential topics that must be covered at your Test Administrators’ Meeting: 
Test Security 
•	MCAS test security requirements, including your school’s procedures for distribution and tracking of secure test materials before, during, between, and following test sessions 
•	the need to closely monitor students during testing to ensure that they are not using cell phones for any purpose, including text messaging, accessing the calculator function or Internet, and photographing test questions
•	supervising test sessions and breaks 
Administration Schedule and Logistics
•	the requirement that test administrators read the scripts in the Test Administrator’s Manuals verbatim to students, including students taking make-up sessions
•	your school’s MCAS testing schedule 
•	assignment of a specific testing space and a specific group of students to each test administrator 
•	standard and nonstandard MCAS test accommodations for students with disabilities
•	assigning/distributing booklets to students 
•	logistics for test completion sessions for students who require additional time to complete a test session 
•	instructions for dismissing students after they have completed each test session
•	the requirement that students may not return to a test session once it has been completed
•	the collection and return of books that students may take to test administrations to read if they finish their tests before the end of a test session 
•	the requirement that, after the administration of each test session, test administrators return to the principal lists of all students assigned to them who were not tested so that they can be scheduled for make-up test sessions 
MCAS Test Materials and Approved Resource Materials 
•	application of Student ID Labels to answer booklets 
•	the use of writing instruments other than #2 pencils in test booklets only 
(only #2 pencils are allowed in answer booklets) 
•	approval of printed copies of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries that contain no handwriting for current and former LEP students only (see Appendix E) 
B.	Prepare the Testing Space 
Before each test session, the testing space must be prepared as follows: 
•	Ensure that the room is free from noise or distractions and is adequately lit, ventilated, and furnished so that students can work comfortably and 
without disruption.
•	Ensure that each student will have adequate work space, sufficiently separated from other students to ensure test security. 
•	Obscure or remove from the classroom any and all materials containing content in the subject areas being tested, including English-language dictionaries and classroom support materials such as posters, maps, charts, etc. 
•	Prepare a sign that reads “MCAS Testing—Please Do Not Disturb” to be posted on the door during each MCAS administration session. 
C.	Complete Front Covers of Answer Booklets
Your principal will tell you at the Test Administrators’ Meeting whether Student ID Labels are to be applied to answer booklets before testing sessions or whether they are to be applied by students immediately after answer booklets are distributed. To ensure the proper application of labels, the Department strongly recommends that labels be applied by test administrators.
Labels with incorrect State-Assigned Student Identifiers (SASIDs) should not be applied to answer booklets. If your school did not receive Student ID Labels for some students, or received labels with incorrect SASIDs, all information requested on the front covers of the answer booklets must be completed according to the instructions in step 9 on page 25 of this manual.


Part IV 
Administering the Practice Test

The administration of the practice test is optional.
Your principal will provide you with a schedule for administering the practice test if 
it will be administered at your school. The practice test should take approximately 
20 minutes to administer and review.
The format of the practice test closely resembles the format of the actual test.
Follow the instructions below to administer the practice test.
1.	Distribute the practice test to each student and say:
“Do not open the practice test until I instruct you to do so.”
2.	When the tests have been distributed, say:
“I have just handed out a practice test that will help you understand how and where to answer questions on the MCAS U.S. History test. The practice test has the same kinds of questions that you will see on the real test, but your answers to questions on this practice test do not count toward your MCAS score.
You may open your test, read the directions, and begin the practice test.”
You may assist students during the practice test session. Be sure that students in your group clearly understand
•	how to fill in multiple-choice answer circles completely and correctly.
•	how to answer open-response questions completely, including how to respond to open-response questions that have more than one part to answer and label.
This is the ONLY session in which you may help the students while they are answering questions. After students have completed their work on the practice test, you may review their answers with them. You may NOT answer student questions once students have begun the actual MCAS test.
3.	When students have completed the practice test, collect the tests for return to the principal.


Part V
Administering the U.S. History Test 
Session 1

A.	Materials Needed for Session 1 
Prior to testing, you will receive the following materials from your principal for students assigned to you: 
1.	Test Administrator’s Manual 
2.	U.S. History Test Booklets
3.	U.S. History Answer Booklets
4.	Optional: U.S. History practice tests (if not previously administered)
5.	Students’ State-Assigned Student Identifiers (SASIDs), if applicable
6.	Student ID Labels, if labels were not previously applied to answer booklets
	If your principal has instructed you to apply Student ID Labels to answer booklets before testing, do so before students arrive for testing.
7.	A tracking form to assist you and your principal in maintaining the security of test materials
You will also need to have the following materials available in your testing space 
prior to testing: 
1.	“Do Not Disturb” sign 
2.	printed copies of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries for current and former LEP students only
3.	#2 pencils 
If applicable for any student in your assigned group, you will also receive Braille test materials, large-print test materials, and/or Kurzweil 3000 CDs.
See Appendix A of this manual for additional information on the use of the Braille edition of the test; Appendix B for additional information on the use of the large-print edition of the test; Appendix C for additional information on signing the test for students who are deaf or hard of hearing; and Appendix D for additional information regarding typed responses. Follow the instructions included in the CD packet for students using Kurzweil 3000 CDs.
All test booklets and answer booklets are secure materials and must be tracked properly from the time you receive them until you return them to your principal.
You will likely receive more materials than needed for your group of students. Notify your principal immediately if you need additional materials. Set aside unassigned materials and keep them secure until you return them to your principal. 
B.	Before Students Arrive 
1.	Prepare the testing space (see page 17). 
2.	Post the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the outside of the door to your testing space. 
3.	Write the name of your school and district on the board.
C.	As Students Arrive 
1.	Collect books from students who brought them to read in the event they finish their work before the end of the test session. 
2.	Approve any bilingual dictionaries brought by current and former LEP students to use during the test session. Approval must be strictly limited to printed copies of bilingual dictionaries that provide word-to-word translations WITHOUT definitions and in which there is no handwriting. 
All other dictionaries are prohibited during this session. 
3.	Make sure that students do not have access to cell phones or other electronic devices during testing. 
4.	Make sure that students’ desks are clear, except for approved bilingual dictionaries and #2 pencils. Students may also have highlighters and pens to use in their test booklets.
D.	Administer Session 1
To ensure that all students across the state have access to the same information and receive the same instructions, test administrators are required to read the following script verbatim to their students.
1.	Say to the students: 
“We are about to begin the MCAS U.S. History test. The results of this test will be reported to your school and will be used to help improve your academic performance. It is very important that you try to do your best work during this and every test session.
I will now distribute your answer booklets. Please do not open them 
until I instruct you to do so.” 
2.	Distribute the answer booklets. If you previously applied Student ID Labels, make sure that each student receives her or his own booklet. 
3.	Once the answer booklets have been distributed, say: 
“Please pick up the U.S. History answer booklet and QUICKLY flip through the pages to see if there are any missing pages, completely blank pages, or pages printed upside down.
Raise your hand if you have an answer booklet with missing pages, blank pages, or upside-down pages.” 
4.	Collect any defective booklets and fill in the VOID circle on the back cover of each. Then write “VOID” in large letters on the front cover of each. Set aside these booklets to be returned to the principal. Give new booklets to those students who had 
defective booklets. 
5.	If students will apply their own Student ID Labels, distribute the labels now. Instruct students to verify that the information on their labels is correct before they apply them. Any student who has a Student ID Label with incorrect information should return her or his label or pre-labeled answer booklet to you. If the student’s SASID is correct on the label, the student may use the labeled answer booklet. If the SASID is incorrect or the student does not have a label, additional information must be completed on the front cover of an unlabeled answer booklet, according to the instructions in step 9 of this section. 
6.	When all Student ID Labels have been applied, say: 
“Before beginning this test session, you will provide some information on the front cover of your answer booklet. It is extremely important that you complete all of this information CORRECTLY, and that you use ONLY a #2 pencil in your answer booklet. You may NOT use a pen or any other writing instrument. 
At the top of the front cover, print the school name on the first line and the district name on the second line. I have written the school and district names on the board.” 
	Pause and check that students are completing the information correctly on the 		front covers of their answer booklets. 
7.	Then say: 
“Below the information you just printed is the title ‘Student Name Grid.’ 
Print the letters of your LAST name in the boxes below that title. Write one letter in each box, starting in the first box on the left. Between the printed words ‘Last Name’ and ‘First Name,’ you will see a dividing line. If your last name is longer than the space provided, fill in as much as will fit in front of the dividing line. If your last name has a hyphen, write the two names together as one word, without the hyphen.” 
	Pause for students to complete this section. 
8.	Then say: 

“Print the letters of your FIRST name, starting with the box to the right 
of the dividing line. Do NOT write your nickname or use a different spelling of your name than usual. If your first name has a hyphen, write the two names together as one word, without the hyphen. Print your middle initial in the last box, under ‘MI.’ ” 
	Pause for students to complete this section. 
9.	If all of the students in your assigned group are using answer booklets with Student ID Labels, skip to step 10. Otherwise, continue with step 9. 
	Say to the students: 
“If your answer booklet does not have a Student ID Label on the lower right corner, you will now fill in the circles under each letter that you printed under the ‘STUDENT NAME GRID.’ 
Whenever you fill in circles, it is important to COMPLETELY fill the circles and make DARK MARKS. It is also important to erase COMPLETELY any mark you want to change and any stray marks on the page.” 
	Pause and check that students are completing this task correctly. Say: 
“On the upper right side of the page, there is a section labeled ‘BIRTHDATE,’ with abbreviations for the months of the year. Fill in the circle to the right of the MONTH in which you were born. For example, if your birthday is in August, you will fill in the ‘8’ circle to the right of A-U-G.
Next, print the two numbers for the DAY on which you were born, one in each box underneath the word ‘DAY.’ If your birthdate is a single number, print a zero first. For example, if your birthday is on the second of the month, you will print the numbers ‘zero, two’ in the boxes underneath ‘DAY.’ 
Now print the numbers of the YEAR in which you were born in the boxes underneath ‘YEAR.’ 
Last, underneath each number you printed, fill in the circle that contains the same number.” 
	Pause and check that students are completing this task correctly. If students will be filling in their own SASIDs, say: 
“Locate the box labeled ‘STATE-ASSIGNED STUDENT IDENTIFIER.’ I will provide each of you with your State-Assigned Student Identifier number so you can write the information and fill in the appropriate circles.” 
10.	Once those students who are using answer booklets without Student ID Labels have completed the required information, say:
“I will now distribute the U.S. History test booklets. Do not open your booklet until I instruct you to do so.”
11.	Once the test booklets have been distributed, say:
“Please pick up your test booklet and QUICKLY flip through the pages to see if there are any missing pages, completely blank pages, or pages that were printed upside down.
Please raise your hand if you have a test booklet with missing pages, blank pages, or upside-down pages.”
12. 	Collect any defective booklets and write “VOID” in large letters on the front cover of each. Set aside these booklets to be returned to your principal. Give new booklets to those students who had defective booklets.
13.	Once this is done, say:
“On the front cover, print your name on the first line, above ‘Student Name.’ Print the school and district names on the second and third lines. The school and district names are written on the board for you to copy.”
	Pause and check that students are completing this task correctly.
14. 	Say to the students: 
“Look at the front cover of your test booklet. In the top right-hand corner, you will see the word ‘Form,’ followed by a number. Now open your answer booklet to page 2. At the top right-hand corner of THAT page, you will see a small box with the title ‘Form Number.’ Write the number that is on your test booklet in the empty box below that title. Then, below the small box, fill in the circle to the right of the correct form number.”
15.	Pause to allow students to print and bubble the form number on their answer booklets. Then say: 
“This is the first of two test sessions for the MCAS U.S. History test. During this test session, you will answer questions 1–32, which consist of multiple-choice questions and open-response questions. 
To answer multiple-choice questions, you will choose the best answer—either A, B, C, or D—and mark your choice by filling in the circle in your answer booklet. Remember to fill in the circle completely and make a dark mark. It is also important to erase COMPLETELY any mark you want to change.
To answer open-response questions, you will write on lines that are in a large answer box on the page of your answer booklet. Words that you write outside the answer box will NOT be included in your score. 
Your answers to open-response questions will not be scored for spelling or grammar. You should try your best to use proper spelling and grammar, but your score will not be lowered if you make a mistake in spelling or grammar. Remember to read open-response questions CAREFULLY and answer them COMPLETELY. If an open-response question has more than one part or asks for more than one answer, be sure to answer EVERY part of the question, and LABEL each part of your answer ‘a,’ ‘b,’ etc. 
Please open your test booklet to the inside front cover for important instructions. The information in the box on the right-hand page will help you to answer open-response questions. You are allowed to turn back to this page at any time during testing to remind yourself of how to answer open-response questions. Please read the information in the box now.” 
Pause while students read the information. 
16.	Say to the students: 
“You may not use an English-language dictionary during the U.S. History test. 
No scrap paper is allowed. You must mark all of your answers in your answer booklet. Any answers written in your test booklet will not be scored, and your test booklet will be destroyed following test administration. 
You may use highlighters or pens to help you in your test booklet, BUT you must write all of your responses in your answer booklet in #2 pencil ONLY. If you use any other writing instrument or leave any stray marks in your answer booklet, your answers may not be scored.” 
17.	Say to the students: 
“This test session is scheduled to be 60 minutes long. If you have not finished answering the questions at the end of that time, you will be given additional time to finish. 
Once you begin the test, each test booklet page for this session will say ‘GO ON’ at the bottom right corner of the page. Keep answering questions until you have answered the last question on a page that says ‘STOP’ at the bottom. 
If you finish answering the questions before the end of the test session, you should review your work for this session. Remember that you may turn back to the beginning of your test booklet to review the information in the box there. However, you may NOT look ahead to any other test session. Any answers you make to questions from session 2 during this session may not be scored. If you are satisfied with your work and you brought a book to read, bring your test materials to me to exchange for your book. 
Be aware that the use of cell phones for any purpose is strictly prohibited and cheating in any form is forbidden.”  
18.	Then say: 
“Open your answer booklet to page 2. You will mark your answers for test session 1 beginning on this page. 
Now open your test booklet to page 1, which says ‘U.S. History: Session 1’ at the top. You may begin test session 1 now.” 
19.	Circulate among the students while they take the test to see that they are working steadily, are not using cell phones, and are in the correct section of their test booklets and answer booklets. It is your responsibility to ensure a secure testing environment. 
20.	When the session time is half over, say to the students: 
“The session time is half over. Remember to use the information in the box at the beginning of your test booklet as you review your answers to open-response questions. Make sure that you do not skip any questions in this test session. When you are finished answering all of the questions in session 1 and reviewing your work, return your test materials to me.” 
21.	At the end of the session, say to the students:
“This is the end of the time scheduled for this session. Before I collect your booklets, I want to remind you that you were supposed to answer questions 1 through 32 during this session, the last response to a question should be on page 5 of your answer booklet, and you should make sure you have not skipped any questions. Remember, once you hand me your test materials, you will not be permitted to go back to session 1.”
	Pause to allow students to check whether they have skipped any questions. Then say:
“Please put your pencil down and close your booklets. If you need more time to answer any questions, raise your hand.”
22.	Note which students need more time and then tell the students they may lower 
their hands. 
23.	Pick up each student’s answer booklet and then each test booklet. Verify that you have collected a used answer booklet and a used test booklet from each student.
24.	Dismiss students who have completed session 1, according to the instructions given by your principal at the Test Administrators’ Meeting. 
25.	For students who need more time to finish, follow the instructions given by your principal at your meeting.
E.	End of Session 1 Responsibilities 
1.	Make a list of all students in your assigned group who were not tested. These students will need to take U.S. History test session 1 during the make-up period. 
Return this list to your principal with other test materials. If all the students 
assigned to you took session 1, notify your principal of this. 
2.	Group booklets into the following separate piles: 
•	used test booklets 
•	used answer booklets 
•	void answer booklets 
•	void test booklets 
•	unassigned test materials 
•	practice tests (if applicable)
3.	Immediately return all test materials and the list of students not tested to your principal using appropriate tracking documents, as instructed by your principal. 
 


Part VI
Administering the U.S. History Test 
Session 2

A.	Materials Needed for Session 2 
Prior to testing, you will receive the following materials from your principal for students assigned to you: 
1.	Test Administrator’s Manual 
2.	U.S. History Test Booklets
3.	U.S. History Answer Booklets
	If there are students in your assigned group who do not have answer booklets with the front covers completed, these students will need to complete the front covers of their answer booklets. Instructions for completing the front covers of answer booklets appear in this manual on pages 23–25 (steps 3–9).
4.	Students’ State-Assigned Student Identifiers (SASIDs), if applicable 
5.	Student ID Labels, if applicable 
6.	A tracking form to assist you and your principal in maintaining the security of test materials
You will also need to have the following materials available in your testing space prior to testing: 
1.	“Do Not Disturb” sign 
2.	printed copies of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries for current and former LEP students only
3.	#2 pencils 
If applicable for any student in your assigned group, you will also receive Braille test materials, large-print test materials, and/or Kurzweil 3000 CDs.
See Appendix A of this manual for additional information on the use of the Braille edition of the test; Appendix B for additional information on the use of the large-print edition of the test; Appendix C for additional information on signing the test for students who are deaf or hard of hearing; and Appendix D for additional information regarding typed responses. Follow the instructions included in the CD packet for students using Kurzweil 3000 CDs.
All test booklets and answer booklets are secure materials and must be tracked properly from the time you receive them until you return them to your principal.
You will likely receive more materials than needed for your group of students. Notify your principal immediately if you need additional materials. Set aside unassigned materials and keep them secure until you return them to your principal. 
B.	Before Students Arrive 
1.	Prepare the testing space (see page 17). 
2.	Post the “Do Not Disturb” sign on the outside of the door to your testing space. 
3.	Write the name of your school and district on the board. 
C.	As Students Arrive 
1.	Collect books from students who brought them to read in the event they finish their work before the end of the test session. 
2.	Approve any bilingual dictionaries brought by current and former LEP students to use during the test session. Approval must be strictly limited to printed copies of bilingual dictionaries that provide word-to-word translations WITHOUT definitions and in which there is no handwriting. 
	All other dictionaries are prohibited during this session.
3.	Make sure that students do not have access to cell phones or other electronic devices during testing. 
4.	Make sure that students’ desks are clear, except for approved bilingual dictionaries and #2 pencils. Students may also have highlighters and pens to use in their test booklets.
D.	Administer Session 2
Test administrators are required to read the following script verbatim to their students.
1.	Say to the students: 
“We are about to begin session 2 of the MCAS U.S. History test. This is the last of two sessions. I will now distribute your answer booklets. Do not open them until I instruct you to do so.” 
2.	Distribute the answer booklets to their original owners. 
	Note: It is your responsibility to ensure that each student receives her or his own original answer booklet. 
3.	Once the answer booklets have been distributed, say: 
“Make sure you have your own answer booklet. If you have someone else’s answer booklet, raise your hand now.” 
	If any students raise their hands, give them their correct answer booklets. 
4.	Then say: 
“I will now distribute your U.S. History test booklets. Do not open your test booklet until I instruct you to do so.” 
Distribute the test booklets to their original owners. 
	Note: It is your responsibility to ensure that each student receives her or his own original test booklet. 
5.	Once the test booklets have been distributed, say: 
“Make sure you have your own test booklet. If you have someone else’s booklet, raise your hand now.” 
If any students raise their hands, give them their correct booklets. 
6.	Say to the students:
“During this test session, you will answer questions 33–64, which consist 
of multiple-choice and open-response questions. 
To answer multiple-choice questions, you will choose the best answer—either A, B, C, or D—and mark your choice by filling in the circle in your answer booklet. Remember to fill in the circle completely and make a dark mark. It is also important to erase completely any mark you want to change. 
To answer open-response questions, you will write on lines that are in a large answer box on the page of your answer booklet. Words that you write outside the answer box will NOT be included in your score. 
Your answers to open-response questions will not be scored for spelling or grammar. You should try your best to use proper spelling and grammar, but your score will not be lowered if you make a mistake in spelling or grammar. 
Remember to read open-response questions CAREFULLY and answer them COMPLETELY. If an open-response question has more than one part or asks for more than one answer, be sure to answer EVERY part of the question, and LABEL each part of your answer ‘a,’ ‘b,’ etc.” 

7.	Say to the students: 
“You may not use an English-language dictionary during the U.S. History test. 
No scrap paper is allowed. You must write all of your answers in your answer booklet. Any answers written in your test booklet will not be scored, and your test booklet will be destroyed following test administration. 
You may use highlighters or pens to help you in your test booklet, BUT you must write all of your responses in your answer booklet in #2 pencil ONLY. If you use any other writing instrument or leave any stray marks in your answer booklet, your answers may not be scored. 
Please open your test booklet to the beginning and review the information in the box. You are allowed to turn back to this page at any time during testing to remind yourself of how to answer open-response questions.” 
Pause while students review the information. 
8.	Say to the students: 
“This test session is scheduled to be 60 minutes long. If you have not finished answering the questions at the end of that time, you will be given additional time to finish. 
Once you begin the test, each test booklet page for this session will say ‘GO ON’ at the bottom right corner of the page. Keep answering questions until you have answered the last question on a page that says ‘STOP’ at the bottom. 
If you finish answering the questions before the end of the test session, you should review your work for this session. Remember that you may turn back to the beginning of your test booklet to review the information there. However, you may NOT review the first test session. Any answers you make to questions from session 1 during this session may not be scored. If you are satisfied with your work and you brought a book to read, bring your test materials to me to exchange for your book. 
Be aware that use of cell phones for any purpose is strictly prohibited and cheating in any form is forbidden.”
9.	Then say: 
“Open your answer booklet to page 8. You will mark your answers for 
test session 2 beginning on this page. Now open your test booklet to the page that says ‘U.S. History: Session 2’ at the top. The first question in this session is 33. You may begin test session 2 now.” 
10.	Circulate among the students while they take the test to see that they are working steadily, are not using cell phones, and are in the correct section of their test booklets and answer booklets. It is your responsibility to ensure a secure testing environment. 
11.	When the session time is half over, say to the students: 
“The session time is half over. Remember to use the information in the box at the beginning of your test booklet as you review your answers to open-response questions. Make sure that you do not skip any questions in this test session. When you are finished answering all of the questions in session 2 and reviewing your work, return your test materials to me.” 
12.	At the end of the session, say to the students:
“This is the end of the time scheduled for this session. Before I collect your booklets, I want to remind you that you were supposed to answer questions 33 through 64 during this session, the last response to a question should be on page 11 of your answer booklet, and you should make sure you have not skipped any questions. Remember, once you hand me your test materials, you will not be permitted to go back to session 2.”
	Pause to allow students to check whether they have skipped any questions. Then say:
“Please put your pencil down and close your booklets. If you need more time to answer any questions, raise your hand.”
13.	Note which students need more time and then tell the students they may lower their hands. 
14.	Pick up each student’s answer booklet and then each test booklet. Verify that you have collected a used answer booklet and a used test booklet from each student. 
15.	Dismiss students who have completed session 2, according to the instructions given by your principal at the Test Administrators’ Meeting. 
16.	For students who need more time to finish, follow the instructions given by your principal at your meeting.
E.	End of Session 2 Responsibilities 
1.	Verify that any students who filled in circles for their names, dates of birth, and SASIDs on the front covers of answer booklets have done so correctly. If not, correct the information on the front covers at this time.
2. 	Make a list of all students in your assigned group who were not tested. These students will need to take U.S. History test session 2 during the make-up period.
	Return this list to your principal with other test materials. If all the students assigned to you took session 2, notify your principal of this.
3. 	Group materials into the following separate piles:
•	used test booklets
•	used answer booklets
•	void answer booklets
•	void test booklets
•	unassigned test materials
4. 	Immediately return all test materials and the list of students not tested to your principal using appropriate tracking documents, as instructed by your principal.
Signing the Test for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing 


Appendix A
Procedures for Administering the Braille Edition of the Test 

Procedures for Administering the Braille Edition of the Test 
The instructions below are to be followed for any student with a disability whose IEP Team or 504 team determines that the student will participate in MCAS testing using standard accommodation 12. 
Accommodation 12. Braille: Student uses Braille edition of the test 
If your assigned group of students includes a student taking the Braille edition of the test, your principal will provide you with a Braille Administrator’s Copy and a Braille test booklet to review up to four days before the first test session. It is important that you have the opportunity to become familiar with the Braille test items and Braille transcriptions, make note of any items that may have been intentionally omitted on the Braille version, and understand any differences between the Braille version page numbers and page number references given in this manual. Correct page number references are provided in the Braille Administrator’s Copy. Your review must occur at the school under the supervision of the principal (or designee). Braille test materials, including the Braille Administrator’s Copy, are secure materials and may not be removed from the school. They must be returned to the testing contractor by the principal following test administration.
The test administrator MUST transcribe the student’s answers verbatim into the student’s standard answer booklet. Otherwise, the student will not receive credit for her or his work.
All information requested on the front cover, inside back cover, and outside back cover of the student’s standard answer booklet must be properly completed by the principal or designee. 


Appendix B Procedures for Administering the Large-Print Edition of the Test

Procedures for Administering the Large-Print Edition of the Test 
The instructions below are to be followed for any student with a disability whose IEP Team or 504 team determines that the student will participate in MCAS testing using standard accommodation 11. 

Accommodation 11. Large-print: Student uses large-print edition of the test 
If your assigned group of students includes a student taking the large-print edition of the test, your principal will provide you with a large-print test booklet and answer booklet and a standard answer booklet at the beginning of the first test session. 
The student’s answers (including multiple-choice responses) MUST be transcribed verbatim into the student’s standard answer booklet. Otherwise, the student will not receive credit for her or his work. If the student is also using typed responses, see Appendix D for further information. 
All information requested on the front cover, inside back cover, and outside back cover of the student’s standard answer booklet must be properly completed by the principal or designee.

Appendix C
Procedures for Signing the Test for Students
Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing

Signing the Test for Students Who Are Deaf or Hard of Hearing
The instructions below are to be followed for any student with a disability whose IEP Team or 504 team determines that the student will participate in MCAS testing using standard accommodation 17. 

Accommodation 17. Test administrator signs test (except ELA Reading Comprehension Test): The test administrator signs the ELA Composition writing prompt, Mathematics, Science and Technology/Engineering, and/or History and Social Science passages and test items to a student who is deaf or hard of hearing 
Test Administration Information: 
a)	All passages and test items must be signed exactly as written, except in cases when doing so would reveal an answer to a test question. If a sign visually defines the concept being tested, it must be finger-spelled. Interpreters may not provide assistance to the student regarding the meanings of words, intent of any test questions, or responses to test items. 
b)	The test must be administered in a separate setting, either individually or to a small group (2–5 students), following the procedures outlined at the end of this appendix.
c)	Under secure conditions supervised by the principal, sign interpreters may 
review test materials up to four days prior to test administration. Test materials may not be removed from the school and must be returned to the testing contractor by the principal following test administration.
If a student does not enter her or his own responses in a standard answer booklet, the student’s answers MUST be transcribed verbatim into a standard answer booklet. Otherwise, the student will not receive credit for her or his work. If the student is also using typed responses, see Appendix D for further information. 
All information requested on the front cover, inside back cover, and outside back cover of a standard answer booklet for these students must be properly completed by the principal or designee. 


All students who will have the test sign-language interpreted will be given the same form number of the test. Typically, Form 1 is provided to students receiving sign-language interpretation. 
Procedures for Using Test Accommodation 17
Signing an MCAS Test to a Small Group of Deaf Students (2–5) 
The test administrator may sign test items to a small group of students, provided that each student has an IEP or 504 plan that includes standard accommodation 17. The following procedures must be followed:
•	No more than five students may be grouped together, since students typically proceed through the test at different rates.
•	Students grouped together must be given test Form 1, since all questions in a given test form are identical. Test form numbers appear in the upper right-hand corner of each student answer booklet.
•	Student test booklets may not be opened or reviewed by students prior 
to testing.
•	Under secure conditions supervised by the principal, sign interpreters may 
review test materials up to four days prior to test administration. Test materials may not be removed from the school and must be returned to the testing contractor by the principal following test administration.

Appendix D
Procedures for Typed Response

Typed Responses 
The instructions below are to be followed for a student with a disability whose IEP Team or 504 team determines that the student will participate in MCAS testing using standard accommodation 23.
Accommodation 23. Word Processor: Student uses a word processor, Alpha-Smart, or similar electronic keyboard to type the ELA Composition and/or answers to short-answer and open-response questions.
Typed responses may be submitted online. The Department strongly recommends that schools use the online option. Instructions for submitting typed responses online appear below and on the following page.

Security Information
Test administrators are responsible for maintaining the security of all computers used by students who receive accommodation 23 (word processor). Test administrators must ensure that any spell- or grammar-checking device is disabled (unless a student receives nonstandard accommodation 31 for the ELA Composition) and that students are not allowed to access the Internet or any files on the computer’s hard drive or network during testing.
At the end of test administration, after all student responses have been submitted online or printed for submission with an answer booklet, test administrators are responsible for permanently deleting all student responses that were temporarily saved on any local computer or computer disk.
Test Administration Instructions
These instructions should be followed regardless of the option (online or paper) you choose for submitting the responses. 
a)	The following information must be provided on each page. If you are submitting paper copies, the information may be handwritten, typed, or affixed on a label.
•	student’s name
•	student’s SASID
•	student’s answer booklet serial number (found on the lower right side of the front cover)
•	subject tested
•	question number
•	for ELA Composition only, page x of y, where x = 1 (page 1) and y = the last page number
b)	A separate page must be submitted for each open response. A maximum of one page may be submitted for each open-response item, and a maximum of four pages may be submitted for the ELA Composition. 
Instructions for Submitting Typed Responses ONLINE (Recommended)
Test administrators must inform their principals when typed responses are ready to be submitted online. The principal or principal’s designee will submit these typed responses, using the school’s secure password. Appendix C of the Principal’s Administration Manual contains detailed instructions for the online submission of typed responses.
Instructions for Submitting Typed Responses on PAPER
If your school encounters technical difficulties using the online system, follow the instructions below to submit students’ responses on paper.
a)	Plain white paper (8 and one half” x 11”) must be used.
b)	The font size must be a minimum of 8-point and a maximum of 12-point when the typed responses are submitted. 
c)	The typed response pages must be placed inside the student’s standard answer booklet (without clips, tape, or staples) and submitted in the Special Handling Envelope in the scorable shipment.

Note: All information requested on the front cover, inside back cover, and outside back cover of a student’s standard answer booklet must be properly completed by 
the principal or designee, including the accommodation 23 bubble on the inside 
back cover. 
A student’s responses to multiple-choice questions must be marked by the student or transcribed in the student’s standard answer booklet. Otherwise, the student will NOT receive credit for his or her work. 


Appendix E 
Approval of Bilingual Dictionaries

Approval of Bilingual Dictionaries
Principals and their designees may approve printed copies of bilingual word-to-word dictionaries for use by current and former LEP students. Approval must be strictly limited to those bilingual dictionaries that:
1.	provide word-to-word translations without definitions and
2. 	do not contain handwriting.
The use of electronic translation devices is prohibited.
The Department authorizes use of the bilingual dictionaries listed in Approved Bilingual Dictionaries for Use on MCAS Tests by Students with Limited English Proficiency, which is posted on the Department Web site at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/2008/admin. For information on approval of bilingual dictionaries not listed on that site, see your principal.