Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

Student Assessment Update: April 28, 2014

MCAS Test Administration Resources Available

In preparation for the May-June MCAS tests, we want to inform you about the availability of a number of resources.

Test Administrator's Manuals (TAMs) for the May tests are now available (printed copies of the TAMs are included in schools' shipments of test materials).
FAQs for the spring test administration are posted.
To assist schools in preparing test administrator training sessions for May-June, sample materials from schools for coordinating MCAS test administrations have been added. In addition, audio recordings of the Department-led sessions in February are posted (the recordings are meant to be used along with the slides).

Feel free to contact the MCAS Service Center at 800-737-5103 with questions about test administration, and the Department's Student Assessment Services Unit at 781-338-3625 with policy questions.

Release of ACCESS for ELLs Test Results

Print copies of ACCESS for ELLs test results are scheduled to arrive in schools on or about May 19. Additional information about the printed reports, including interpretive materials and parent/guardian support materials, as well as instructions for accessing the electronic versions of test results, is available at ACCESS for ELLs Assessment Update: Release of 2014 ACCESS for ELLs Results.

School and District Feedback Survey for PARCC Field Test

PARCC created a survey that school and district leaders may use to submit additional feedback on the PARCC Performance-Based Assessment (PBA) and End-of-Year (EOY) Assessment. PARCC will use information gathered through this survey to improve test administration policies and protocols. District/school test coordinators and technology coordinators are encouraged to fill out this survey after their field test administration (PBA or EOY) but no later than June 13, 2014, at PARCC field test feedback. Staff of district/schools participating in both the PBA and the EOY may choose to give feedback through separate survey responses (i.e., one response after the PBA and one response after the EOY) or through a combined survey response. Please note that test administrators may submit feedback through the Test Administrator Survey.

Important Upcoming Dates

MCAS

April 28: Schools receive Mathematics and STE test materials for grades 3-8
April 28-May 1: Schools with grades 3-8 complete the PCPA, report packing discrepancies, and order additional materials if necessary
April 29: High schools receive Mathematics test materials for grade 10
April 29-May 9: High schools complete the PCPA, report packing discrepancies, and order additional materials if necessary
May 1: Parent/Guardian Reports for February Biology test and March retest delivered to school districts
May 2: Deadline for submitting individualized STE reference sheets for high school students with disabilities using accommodation 20
May 5-20: Mathematics test sessions for grades 3-8
May 6-20: Science and Technology/Engineering test sessions for grades 5 and 8
May 13 and 14: Mathematics test sessions for grade 10

PARCC End-of-Year (EOY) Assessment

Week of April 28: Schools receive EOY paper test materials and order additional materials if necessary
Now Open: EOY test session setup window-recommended completion date is May 9
April 30: Proctor Caching available for online testing
May 5-June 6: Administration window for the EOY test

About This Update

The Student Assessment Update provides important information about the state's testing programs. The update is scheduled to be distributed to schools on a bimonthly basis (less frequently in the summer). We welcome your feedback at mcas@doe.mass.edu. Principals, MCAS test coordinators, and ELL directors receive this update via email based on contact information that your school submitted to the Department. To change your email address or to add another staff member, please follow the instructions below:

Public school districts, public schools, charter public schools, collaboratives, approved special education schools: Submit the new email address to your District-Level Directory Administrator, who is responsible for submitting contact information to the Department. A list of Directory Administrators is posted.
MCAS test sites, adult education programs, out-of-state schools, SEIS-DYS programs: Submit an email address (along with your District and School Code) to the Department at diradmin@doe.mass.edu.

Last Updated: April 30, 2014