To help prepare students for the state-level performance tasks, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) has created local-level classroom performance tasks for each civics topic. Please see the Grade 8 Civics Test Design for additional information about the state-level performance task and the end-of-course test.
The local-level classroom performance tasks are designed to complement the content and skills that appear on the state-level performance tasks. Similar to the state-level tasks, each local-level task focuses on one topic from the grade 8 civics standards.
Local tasks should be completed after regular instruction has occurred for the topic being addressed. These tasks include group work and discussions about the civics topics. In addition, the tasks ask students to analyze and evaluate sources to describe and explain civics concepts. Students will also be expected to write answers to questions related to the task topic. DESE will not collect student work or scores for these classroom-level tasks. Teachers may use these tasks for either formative or summative purposes in the classroom.
The local-level task materials include a task summary with the standards the task is aligned to, task directions, presentation slides, student handouts, and a scoring notes. These materials were reviewed by the MCAS grade 8 civics educator review committee and the MCAS bias and sensitivity review committee. The student handouts may be printed or distributed digitally.
Local-Level Tasks
Last Updated: March 26, 2024
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
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