March 2024
Q: Why has DESE created an MCAS Civics assessment?
A: The development of the Grade 8 Civics assessment is a response to renewed calls to action, both within the Commonwealth and nationally, to bolster civic learning and strengthen democratic institutions. The Civics assessment is part of the Department's broader goals for history and social science education to prepare students with the knowledge, skills, and dispositions to become thoughtful and active participants in a democratic society and a complex world. DESE was charged with developing a Civics assessment for grade 8 alongside the state's broader initiatives to strengthen civics education as described in Chapter 296 of the Acts of 2018, An Act to Promote and Enhance Civic Engagement.
Q: Are teachers involved with the development of the assessment?
A: Yes, a group of 12 civics educators comprise our Grade 8 Civics Assessment Development Committee. These educators review all sources, test questions, and scoring materials prior to field testing and also review all test questions and their associated data after field testing. In addition, a separate Bias and Sensitivity Committee reviews all tests items and scoring materials before and after field testing. Educators play a critical role in providing feedback for this test, and for all MCAS tests.
Q: What will the MCAS Grade 8 Civics assessment look like?
A: The civics assessment is made up of two components: one state-level performance task and an end-of-course (EOC) test. The state-level performance task covers one of the seven grade 8 civics topics in the 2018 History and Social Science Framework , and the EOC test covers the full breadth of the grade 8 civics standards. Schools must administer both components to all participating students. Both components are administered on TestNav, the same computer platform used for other MCAS tests. Students will complete each component independently.
Q: What is the structure of the state-level performance task?
A: Each student will take one state-level performance task. Each task is based on one of the following civics topics:
The task will consist of the following:
Q: What are the local-level classroom performance tasks?
A: To help prepare students for the state-level performance tasks, DESE has created local-level classroom performance tasks for each civics topic. 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.
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. DESE will not collect student work or scores for these classroom-level tasks.
Q: What is the structure of the end-of-course (EOC) test?
A: The EOC test consists of approximately 36-38 test questions including multiple-choice, multiple-select, and technology-enhanced questions. All EOC test questions will be machine-scored. Many questions will be based on a text source or graphic. It is estimated that the EOC test will take approximately 50–60 minutes to complete. A practice test for the EOC test is available on the MCAS Resource Center.
The task questions are based on primary and secondary sources. It is estimated that one task will take approximately 45–50 minutes to complete. A practice test for the state-level performance task is available on the MCAS Resource Center.
Q: What resources related to the Civics test development and design are available on your website?
A: The following information is available on our History and Social Science Test Design and Development pages:
Q: When will the Civics assessment become a required, operational test for all students?
A: DESE expects to administer the civics test operationally in spring 2025 for all students, including a Civics MCAS-Alt for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities. DESE plans to report results at the student, school, district, and state levels.
Q: When will standard setting occur for the Civics assessment?
A: DESE expects to conduct standard setting (establish where achievement levels are set based on the results of the first operational test) in summer 2025. Educators will help to set these achievement level standards. We expect to recruit educators for this important event in early spring 2025.
Q: Is the Gr. 8 Civics assessment part of the accountability system?
A: No, at this time the MCAS Grade 8 Civics test is not expected to be part of the accountability system, nor are there plans for a high school assessment or graduation requirement.
Q: What is the purpose of the 2024 Grade 8 Civics MCAS field test?
A: In school year 2023-24, DESE is conducting a required field test of the grade 8 civics assessment across all schools enrolling grade 8 students. The purpose of the field test is to evaluate items on the new assessment, including both state-level performance tasks and end-of-course (EOC) test questions based on the grade 8 civics standards.
Q: When is the field test?
A: The administration window for the Spring 2024 MCAS Grade 8 Civics Field Test is April 29–June 7. For the complete list of administration deadlines, see page 10 of the 2023-24 Statewide Testing Schedule and Administration Deadlines on the DESE website.
Q: Is there guidance for schools on communicating with parents/guardians of grade 8 students about the civics field test?
A: DESE has created a sample letter to send to parents/guardians to inform them about their child's participation in the MCAS grade 8 civics field test. A Spanish language version is also available.
Q: Will school districts receive data from the field test?
A: DESE expects to provide state, district, and school-level data on a subset of end-of-course test questions. Student-level data will not be provided.
Q: Who is required to participate in the field test?
A: All schools with 10 or more students enrolled in grade 8 are expected to test at least 50% of their grade 8 students. The same group of students must take both the state-level performance task and the end-of-course test. The following students are exempt from participation:
Q: How should schools select students to meet the 50% threshold for participation?
A: Schools should use their best judgment to reach the minimum requirement of 50%. For example:
Classrooms should be randomly selected for participation. Schools are not required to report back to DESE about their student selection process.
Q: Can a school administer the field test to more than 50% of their grade 8 students?
A: Yes. Schools that wish to test more than 50% of their students must email mcas@mass.gov to inform DESE.
Q: Are first-year English learners required to participate in the field test?
A: No. First-year English learners are not required to participate in the field test.
Q: What if a student is absent during the field test?
A: Students who are absent on the day of testing are not required to participate in the field test when they return to school; scheduling make-up testing is at the discretion of the principal.
Q: How do schools register students for the civics field test?
A: Schools will register students through PearsonAccess Next. Schools will receive a .CSV file for Civics through DropBox Central that may be used to complete the Student Registration/Personal Needs Profile (SR/PNP) process. The pre-administration SR/PNP process is available March 25–April 5 and the extended pre-administration SR/PNP window is April 8–April 26. See the Supplement to the Guide to the SR/PNP for the Civics Field Test for additional information.
Q: What accommodations are available for the civics field test?
A: The full list of accommodations for the Spring 2024 MCAS Civics Field Test can be found on the DESE website. Please note, a paper-based test will not be available for the Civics field test; schools may remove students who require this special accommodated test edition from participating in the field test. For students with disabilities or English learners with accommodations, please note that it is not necessary to update IEPs, 504 plans, or EL accommodation plans for students taking the Civics field test. Schools should, however, review the accommodation requirements for selected students who are scheduled to participate in the field test. See the Supplement to the Guide to the SR/PNP for the Civics Field Test for additional information.
Q: Will a text-to-speech accommodation be available for the field test?
A: Yes, text-to-speech will be available for the civics field test. Students with this accommodation are encouraged to take the Civics Accommodated Practice Test prior to taking the field test.
Q: When should schools administer the state-level performance task and the end-of-course test?
A: The state-level performance task and the end-of-course test must be administered during the testing window (April 29–June 7, 2024). Each component may be administered at any time during this window. The two components do not have to be administered on consecutive days. The two components may also be administered on the same day. The state-level performance task must be administered before the EOC test is administered.
Students participating in the field test should be tested as closely together as possible, but it is not necessary to test all students concurrently. This means that students may be tested during their regular civics classes even if those classes are at different times of the school day or on subsequent days.
The field test is not timed, but schools do not need to set aside unlimited time during the school day for students to complete the test as with the operational MCAS tests (ELA, Math, STE). DESE estimates that the state-level performance task will take 45–50 minutes and the EOC test will take 50–60 minutes. Schools are asked to make a good-faith effort to ensure that students complete the field test.
Q: Which state-level performance task will my school administer?
A: Every school with 10 students or more enrolled in grade 8 has been randomly assigned to one state-level performance task based on one of the seven civics topics. The seven topics are:
Schools were notified about their topic in October 2023. The full list, by district and school, is also available on DESE's website.
Q: Are schools required to administer the "local tasks"?
A: To help prepare students for the state-level performance tasks, DESE developed local-level classroom performance tasks for each topic in the grade 8 civics standards. These tasks are classroom-based; no data is collected by the state for these tasks. The local-level tasks can be used for formative or summative purposes, and it is estimated that local-level tasks will take 1–2 class periods to complete. Administration of the local-level tasks is optional, though strongly recommended. The tasks are available.
Last Updated: March 26, 2024
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