Assessment/Accountability MCAS
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

2008 MCAS and AYP Data Review; Deadline for Reporting MCAS Data Discrepancies

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide you with a schedule for and information regarding the release of 2008 MCAS and AYP data, including deadlines for the MCAS data discrepancy reporting process this summer.

2008 MCAS and AYP Data Review Schedule

School and district leaders will have access to preliminary MCAS results on August 15 through the www.mcasservicecenter.com Web site. In September, final student, school, and district level results will be released to schools and districts for all grades 3-8 tests (with the exception of History and Social Science), for the grade 10 English Language Arts and Mathematics tests, and for the high school Science and Technology/Engineering tests. Preliminary results will be embargoed prior to final release.

The schedule for the release of MCAS and AYP data for school and district review is attached.

Reporting MCAS and AYP Data Discrepancies

The Department's online discrepancy reporting period for MCAS will be open from August 15 through August 25. It is essential that principals and directors of private special education schools, institutional schools, and collaboratives review their preliminary student results during this period. Principals who are unable to review the preliminary results during this timeframe should assign this task to an assistant, as discrepancies reported outside the August 15-25 window will not be corrected in time for the official September release of school and district MCAS and AYP summaries.

The discrepancy period for AYP will be announced at a later date. Directions for reporting AYP discrepancies will be available at that time.

The MCAS discrepancy reporting tool along with school and district results and detailed instructions will be available online at www.mcasservicecenter.com. The discrepancy reporting tool and results are password protected. Please use the password that was shipped directly to principals and superintendents via U.S. mail on January 2, 2008.

The Department will host a conference call in mid-August to answer questions you may have about MCAS data and the discrepancy resolution process. Registration for these calls will begin in August at www.mcasservicecenter.com.

2008 MCAS and AYP Data Review Schedule - updated August 12, 2008