Assessment/Accountability Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System
MEPA
(Massachusetts English Proficiency Assessment)

Background:

Federal and state laws require that limited English proficient (LEP) students be assessed annually to measure their proficiency in reading, writing, listening, and speaking, English, as well as the progress they are making in learning English. In keeping with these laws, LEP students must participate in the Massachusetts English Proficiency Assessment (MEPA), which consists of two assessments:

Massachusetts English Proficiency Assessment-R/W (MEPA-R/W) assesses LEP students' proficiency in reading and writing at grade spans 3-4, 5-6, 7-8, and 9-12.

Massachusetts English Proficiency Assessment-Oral (MELA-O) assesses LEP students' proficiency in listening (comprehension) and speaking (production) at grades K-12.

• View the English Language Proficiency Benchmarks and Outcomes, which are the academic learning standards on which these tests are based.

• Access student participation requirements for MCAS and MEPA, including participation requirements for LEP students with disabilities.

• See sample student work and scoring guides for MEPA-R/W Constructed-response questions.

• Access MEPA test administration resources, including MEPA-R/W manuals and lists of staff qualified to administer the MELA-O.

• Read reports of results and interpretive materials.