Assessment/Accountability
MCAS Performance Appeals

Step by Step Instructions on Identifying Eligible Students

Brockton High School
MCAS Appeals: Our "Step by Step"

Presented by Dr. Susan Szachowicz, Principal and Maria LaForte, Associate Principal

At an MCAS Performance Appeals Workshop
November 21, 2005
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education in Malden

Here is a practical, step-by-step and failsafe guide to identify students who may qualify for performance appeals. With Sue's permission, we are providing it for you and hope that you will find it a useful tool. Many thanks to Sue and Maria for this great information.

1. Run their attendance %.
2. Check with Housemasters/Nurse/Guidance Counselor to determine if any below 95% have attendance waivers.
3. Once that list is finalized, run a list of the potential appellant's courses and grades in the subject area of the appeal.
   (Note: be sure to check for repeating the course or Summer School courses)
4. Appellant's grade review meeting:
   • Principal/Associate Principal/Guidance Department Head/ SIMS Specialist/Department Head
   • We review the grades (any student failing = NO Appeal)
   • Must be on graduation track meeting local requirements
   • If D's & F's - NO Appeal
   • Any question - we run the cohort group (our SIMS specialist worked with ESE initially to program cohort groups)
   • Ask student to verify grade for accuracy
5. Cohort groups run by ITC.
6. Those who make it go; those who don't have a follow-up meeting (see # 12 below).
7. Appeal form is on the computer; each one run with standard information
8. Teacher sign-off
9. Verify attendance and MCAS remediation
10. Use checklist to complete the process
11. Follow-up meeting for those not appealed:
    • Principal/Associate Principal/Housemaster/Guidance Counselor/Student
    • Discussion of why no appeal was filed
    • Discussion of whether or not appeal is possible (usually need to improve grade).