Commissioner's Message to Educators
August 2010
Dear Superintendents, Principals, and Educators,
Welcome to the MCAS Performance Appeals website. The MCAS Performance Appeals process was established in 2002 by the Massachusetts Board of Education to provide high school students who have not yet earned the Competency Determination an opportunity to demonstrate through their coursework that they meet or exceed the passing standard.
The MCAS Performance Appeals website has recently been revised to include updated guidelines, as well as an application form and cohort worksheet. I request that superintendents review all information and encourage their faculty members who will be responsible for appeals this year to become familiar with the updated procedures for submitting performance appeals. Please refer to Frequently Asked Questions about the Performance Appeals Process and A Guide to the MCAS Performance Appeals Process for thorough information about filing performance appeals.
Cohort appeals are reviewed monthly (except during July and August) and should be submitted by the first week of each month in order to be reviewed that month. Appeals may also be resubmitted once additional information becomes available, such as final grade 12 GPAs for eligible students.
Portfolio appeals are reviewed three times during the year. Please go to the portfolio appeals webpage for the scheduled portfolio review dates and further details.
Transcript appeals may be submitted for any student in grade 12 who transferred into a Massachusetts school after March retests were administered. Please consult Frequently Asked Questions about the Performance Appeals Process and A Guide to the MCAS Performance Appeals Process for further details.
As a reminder, high schools must develop an Educational Proficiency Plan (EPP) that any students who do not receive a score of 240 or higher on the grade 10 MCAS English Language Arts and Mathematics tests must successfully complete in order to earn a CD. For more information on this requirement, please visit the Department's EPP website.
It is my intention to ensure that eligible high school students are given the opportunity to have MCAS Performance Appeals submitted for them. I appreciate your effort on behalf of all students who have yet to meet the high school standard.
Sincerely,
Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D.
Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
last updated: August 24, 2010
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