We welcome everyone back to the new school year. This initial edition of the Student Assessment Update is to provide information on upcoming training sessions and other time-sensitive information only. Our annual back-to-school edition with information about the coming year will be sent out in a few weeks.
The Department will host the following two remote training sessions the week of September 24. We hope that you and your teams will be able to participate in the sessions, and the recordings will be posted in about a week after each session online.
Schools must complete the Student Registration/Personal Needs Profile (SR/PNP) process to order student test materials for the November retests between September 24 and October 5.
Superintendents must ensure that educational collaboratives and approved private special education schools order materials via the SR/PNP process for their students in out-of-district placements.
A response is required from each high school by October 5, including from schools that do not have students participating in this administration. Schools with the following two special situations should contact the MCAS Service Center by the deadline:
For assistance in completing the SR/PNP, access these resources (in addition to the training session listed above):
Questions about ordering test materials can be directed to the MCAS Service Center, and questions about policies or participation guidelines can be directed here to the Office of Student Assessment Services.
During September, principals may either assume the responsibility of, or designate a staff person to serve as, the ACCESS for ELLs School Test Coordinator. The district should assign a District Test Coordinator and a District Technology Coordinator. Designations should be made as soon as possible and communicated to your District Directory Administrator who will need to update your school's ESE Profile by September 19, since these individuals will receive important communications from WIDA and Data Recognition Corporation (DRC), the testing contractor, throughout the year.
Please contact Student Assessment Services with any questions about ACCESS for ELLs testing at access@doe.mass.edu or by phone at 781-338-3625.
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:
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.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 135 Santilli Highway, Everett, MA 02149
Voice: (781) 338-3000 TTY: (800) 439-2370
Disclaimer: A reference in this website to any specific commercial products, processes, or services, or the use of any trade, firm, or corporation name is for the information and convenience of the public and does not constitute endorsement or recommendation by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.