[MCAS logo] MCAS Tests of Spring 2009 Parent/Guardian Report Letter from the Commissioner Dear Parent(s) or Guardian(s): This report shows your child’s results on the spring 2009 MCAS tests and explains what the results mean. The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests are a key part of our state’s effort to support the education of every child. The tests are designed to measure students’ knowledge and skills based on state academic content standards. The tests are also used to show the progress schools and districts are making to help students learn. MCAS results, along with your child’s grades and daily schoolwork, can be used to evaluate how well your child is doing in school. If you have questions about your child’s performance, I encourage you to meet with your child’s teacher(s) to discuss the results and identify ways that you can partner with your school to support your child’s education. Your involvement in your child’s education is important in helping your child to be successful in school. Sincerely, Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D. Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education What can you do to help your child? Supporting your child is important now and in his or her future education. Here are some tips for helping your child prepare for the next MCAS tests. • Have regular discussions with your child’s teacher(s) to see what you can do at home to support your child’s work in school, such as making sure homework is done. • Discuss with your child the subjects that need improvement. Later, talk about whether he or she thinks there has been improvement. If the answer is no, find out why. • Ask your child to explain what he or she is studying. These conversations help you follow your child’s progress and help your child to remember what he or she has learned. • Help your child practice MCAS test questions. Review the tests together so you will all become familiar with the expectations. • Make sure your child gets enough rest, eats properly, and arrives at school on time every day. Send your child to school prepared to learn. What is MCAS? The MCAS program meets the requirements of the Education Reform Act of 1993, which states that the testing program must • test all public school students in Massachusetts, including students with disabilities and limited English proficient students; • measure performance based on the Massachusetts Curriculum Framework learning standards; and • report on the performance of individual students, schools, and districts. The MCAS program also holds schools and districts responsible for the yearly progress they make toward meeting the goal, set by the federal No Child Left Behind Act, that all students will be proficient in reading and mathematics by 2014. Who must take MCAS tests? All public school students, including students with disabilities and limited English proficient (LEP) students, in grades 3–8 and grade 10 must take the MCAS tests. Students in grade 9 have the option of taking one of the four high school Science and Technology/Engineering tests. Students with disabilities who cannot take the standard MCAS test, with or without accommodations, participate in the MCAS Alternate Assessment. Schools have the option of testing LEP students in their first year in U.S. public schools on the ELA test, but the results are used for informational purposes only. What subjects were tested in spring 2009? English Language Arts (ELA) Grades 3–8 and 10 Mathematics Grades 3–8 and 10 Science and Technology/Engineering (STE) Grades 5 and 8 Biology High school STE Chemistry High school STE Introductory Physics High school STE Technology/Engineering High school STE What types of questions are on MCAS tests? The MCAS tests use several types of questions to measure student learning. • Multiple-choice questions. Students choose the correct answer from four options and receive 1 point for a correct answer and 0 points for an incorrect answer. • Open-response questions. Depending on the subject tested, students write one or more paragraphs and/or make a chart, table, diagram, illustration, or graph. Each answer receives a score from 0 to 4 points. • Short-answer questions (Mathematics tests only). Students give a brief response, which is usually a number or a short statement. Students receive 1 point for a correct answer and 0 points for an incorrect answer. How are MCAS test results used? MCAS results are used for the following purposes: • To determine whether schools are helping their students meet the state standards • To assist educators in planning improvements to curriculum and instruction • To determine whether your child meets the state testing requirements for earning a high school diploma Beginning with the class of 2010, students must either earn a score of at least 240 (Proficient) on the grade 10 ELA and Mathematics tests or retests, or earn a score between 220 and 238 on the tests or retests and fulfill the requirements of an Educational Proficiency Plan (EPP). In addition, students must earn a score of at least 220 on one of the high school STE tests. Students must also meet all local requirements in order to qualify for a high school diploma. • To determine your child’s eligibility for the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship based on his or her results on the grade 10 ELA and Mathematics tests Where can you find more information? MCAS test results for all schools and districts in the state http://profiles.doe.mass.edu/state_report/mcas.aspx Requirements for the participation of students with disabilities in MCAS http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/participation/sped.pdf Requirements for the participation of students with limited English proficiency in MCAS and MEPA (Massachusetts English Proficiency Assessment) http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/participation/lep.pdf Educational Proficiency Plan, an educational planning tool required for students who did not earn a score of 240 (Proficient) or higher on the grade 10 ELA and/or Mathematics tests or retests http://www.doe.mass.edu/hsreform/epp John and Abigail Adams Scholarship http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/adams.html Spring 2009 Name: SASID: Grade: 9 Date of Birth: School Code: DEMOA-DEMO1 School: Demonstration School 1 Your child’s performance level and score Biology Performance level: Score: Display of score and probable range of scores In the figure below, the top of the black bar indicates your child’s score. The smaller gray bar shows the range of likely scores your child could have received if he or she had taken the test multiple times. Example: Your child’s score. [arrow pointing to number]250 Range of likely scores if your child took the test many times. [arrow pointing to gray bar] Performance Level Advanced Students at this level demonstrate a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of challenging subject matter and provide sophisticated solutions to complex problems. Proficient Students at this level demonstrate a solid understanding of challenging subject matter and solve a wide variety of problems. Needs Improvement Students at this level demonstrate a partial understanding of subject matter and solve some simple problems. Failing Students at this level demonstrate a minimal understanding of subject matter and do not solve simple problems. Biology 280 260 240 220 200 Your child’s performance compared to school, district, and state performance on this test This section shows your child’s performance. It also shows the percentage of students at each performance level in your child’s school, district, and the state. Science and Technology/Engineering results below combine results from the Biology, Chemistry, Introductory Physics, and Technology/Engineering tests. The check ([check mark]) indicates your child’s performance level. Science and Technology/Engineering Your Child School District State Advanced Proficient Needs Improvement Failing Your child’s scores in the sub-content areas measured by each test Each test measures knowledge and skills in various sub-content areas. This section shows the percentage of possible points earned by your child in each sub-content area. For comparison, you will also find the percentage of possible points earned by students who performed at the low end of the Proficient level across the state. This information can give you a general impression of your child’s relative strengths and weaknesses. Biology Percent of Possible Points Earned by Your Child Percent of Possible Points Earned by Students Who Performed at the Proficient Level Biochemistry and Cell Biology Genetics Anatomy and Physiology Evolution and Biodiversity Ecology To learn more about what is included in each sub-content area, go to http://www.doe.mass.edu/frameworks/current.html. How your child did on individual test questions This section shows how your child did on each test question. In the column to the right of the question number, you will find whether your child gave the correct answer on multiple-choice questions and the number of points earned by your child on open-response questions. Examples are shown below. [check mark] Your child chose the correct answer on a multiple-choice question or gave the correct answer on a short-answer question. A, B, C, or D Your child chose an incorrect answer on a multiple-choice question. The letter represents the incorrect choice. * Your child chose more than one answer on a multiple-choice question (0 points earned). X of 4 Your child earned x points (where x equals 0, 1, 2, 3, or 4) out of 4 possible points on an open-response question. blank space Your child did not answer this question (0 points earned). Biology Question Number Your Child’s Answer or Points Earned 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 X of 4 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 X of 4 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 X of 4 33 34 35 36 37 38 39 40 41 42 43 44 X of 4 45 X of 4 Test questions are available at http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/testitems.html. Page 3 of 4