Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

Student Assessment Update: May 8, 2018

Contact Information

Latest Updates from Student Assessment Services

Returning Paper Materials for Grades 3–8

The Department would like to remind schools that the UPS pickup deadline for ELA paper materials is May 8. Schools should send back their ELA answer documents as well as all ELA nonscorable materials. Schools requiring additional boxes or UPS Return Service Labels should contact the MCAS Service Center at 800-737-5103.

Additionally, schools are reminded that the early UPS pickup for mathematics and STE paper materials is scheduled for May 23. Schools that require additional time before sending back these materials may call the Service Center to be removed from the early pickup list. They will need to schedule their own UPS pickup before the May 30 deadline.

MCAS Field Test Student Questionnaire

The Department recently sent an email to high school principals and test coordinators, providing links to student questionnaires about the MCAS computer-based field tests. The questionnaires allow students to give feedback on the experience of taking the field tests.

In the email, schools were asked to provide each participating student with the link to the specific subject area questionnaire (ELA or mathematics) after the student has completed the field test. The questionnaires are available until May 18 (one week after the field test administration closes).

High school principals and test coordinators who did not receive the email or who have questions about the student questionnaires should contact the MCAS Service Center at 800-737-5103.

MCAS Field Test PCPA

High school principals were also recently emailed their passwords and instructions for completing the Principal's Certification of Proper Test Administration (PCPA) after administering the field test. All high schools must complete the PCPA by May 14.

Questions about the PCPA can be directed to the MCAS Service Center.

Important Dates

Upcoming Dates for Grades 3–8 MCAS Tests

• Now–May 25: Grades 3–8 Mathematics administration
• Now–May 25: Grades 3–8 STE administration
• May 8: Deadline for grades 3–8 ELA UPS pickup of PBT materials

Upcoming Dates for Grade 10/High School MCAS Tests

• Now–May 11: Grade 10 ELA and Mathematics field test administration
• May 18: Parent/Guardian reports for the February Biology test and March retest delivered to districts via UPS

Resources

April 24 "Office Hours" Training Session on End of Testing and Reporting Timeline

Subscriber Information

Principals, MCAS test coordinators, special education directors, and EL program directors automatically receive this Student Assessment Update based on contact information submitted to the Department. To change your email address or to add another staff member who serves in one of these roles, please follow the instructions below:

• Public school districts, public schools, charter public schools, educational collaboratives, and approved private special education schools: submit the new email address to your District-Level Directory Administrator.
• Test sites, adult education programs, out-of-state schools, SEIS-DYS programs: go online to the EOE Information Technology web page (select "District/School Information Update" as the subject) to submit your update (be sure to include your District and School Code).

For others who wish to subscribe, email imailsrv@list1.doe.mass.edu with the following information in the body of the email: "subscribe SASUpdate Your_Name" (Example: subscribe SASUpdate John_Smith). To unsubscribe, send an email to the same address with the following information in the body: "unsubscribe SASUpdate."

In addition, ESE sends occasional communications regarding state policies that affect educators, parents, and other community stakeholders, as well as opportunities for community members to participate in state initiatives. Please visit our newsletter sign-up page if you are interested in receiving other news and information from the Department.

We welcome your questions and feedback at mcas@doe.mass.edu. Thank you.