Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

Request for High Schools to Order MCAS Biology Test Materials by this Friday, October 30, 2015

To:	Superintendents, High School Principals, and Directors of Charter Schools, Approved Private Special Education Schools, Educational Collaboratives, Institutional Settings, and Adult/External Diploma Programs
Copy:	High School MCAS Test Coordinators
From:	Elizabeth Davis, Associate Commissioner of Student Assessment
Date:	October 26, 2015

High school principals will be able to order test materials for the February 2016 MCAS Biology test administration this week (between today, October 26 and October 30). A response is required, even if no test materials are needed. Superintendents must also ensure that private special education schools and educational collaboratives order materials for their students in out-of-district placements.

Ordering Information

Beginning today, principals can order online at the MCAS Service Center by following the steps below.

Select MCAS from the menu.
Select Enrollment Verification from the list of options.
Use the secure password sent in early January 2015.
Follow the online instructions.

Participation Guidelines and Other Resources

An STE component is part of the Adams Scholarship eligibility criteria, and eligibility is based on students' first-time scores. This should be considered when making the decision to participate in high school STE testing in grade 9. Please refer to the Department's website for more information about the Adams Scholarship and for detailed participation guidelines. The Department recommends that schools inform eligible students, former students, and parents/guardians in writing about upcoming testing opportunities. For students who choose not to participate, we recommend that parents/guardians sign an acknowledgment of their children's nonparticipation (see sample letter and form in English and other languages).). More information about reaching out to former students is available in the Principal's Administration Manual

(PAM). For your reference, a schedule of test administration dates, deadlines for ordering test materials, and other administration deadlines is posted on the Department's website. As you know, administrators' leadership in maintaining the security of test materials is essential to a successful test administration. After orders for materials are placed, it is important for superintendents and principals to prepare for the arrival of secure test materials in school buildings by completing the following activities:

Principals should carefully review the MCAS test security requirements (Part I of the PAM).
Principals should establish a document tracking system according to the guidelines in the PAM.
Principals should designate a central locked facility to store test materials.
Superintendents should review their principals' plans for maintaining test security in their school buildings so that they are comfortable with their principals' procedures. A sample form that can be used to guide the review is included in Appendix E of the PAM.

If you have questions about ordering test materials or your password to access the MCAS Service Center website, please contact the MCAS Service Center at 800-737-5103. If you have policy questions or questions about participation guidelines, call the Student Assessment Services Unit at 781-338-3625. Thank you.

Last Updated: October 26, 2015