"Office Hours" Session #2 Recording Now AvailableThe recording of the "office hours" session is now available. Topics included updating accommodations before testing, resuming tests, and tasks after testing.
Enrollment TransferSchools will use a new "enrollment transfer" feature in PearsonAccess Next. The March 12 "Office Hours" session provided information on using this feature. Additional guidance is now available.
Draft MCAS Reporting Schedule: Need to Plan for Summer DatesWe are most pleased that, new for 2019, the Department will return results from the spring MCAS tests to schools and districts before the end of the school year — and for grade 10 ELA, by the end of April. Reviewing results may assist schools with making decisions for instruction for the remainder of this year and the following year. Schools may also use results as an aid in planning student supports or developing suggestions for advanced work that students can complete over the summer.
Please review the attached draft reporting schedule for the spring 2019 MCAS results. In particular, we ask that you and your teams plan ahead to examine preliminary results during the discrepancy reporting period between July 24 and August 6. Principals should plan for a staff member to review the results during this period. The discrepancy period is the only opportunity for reporting missing results, incorrect SASIDs, and any incorrect test status to the Department.
Opportunities to Provide Feedback on MCAS AdministrationTo help the Department better understand the online testing experience, DESE will provide voluntary questionnaires to grade 10 students and educators involved in test administration. While it is important for schools to email or call for support during test administration if pressing matters arise, we encourage school staff to take notes that may assist them in providing detailed input later on.
2019–2020 Testing Schedule Coming SoonThe Department is in the final stages of confirming dates for the 2019-2020 testing schedule and expects to release the schedule in the next edition of the Student Assessment Update.
Reminder for Grades 3–8: Create PAN Sessions and Assign Students to ThemAs a required step before testing, schools must create PAN Sessions and assign students to them (see step 4 on page 55 of the Principal's Administration Manual [PAM] ). After completing this step, schools may prepare their PAN Sessions up to two days prior to testing, following the instructions in step 5 on page 60 of the PAM. Additional steps that schools should take before testing are shown in the checklist on pages 48–49 of the PAM.
Workaround Solution for iPad Issue for Grade 10 MCAS ELA TestingHigh schools received the attached memorandum today. Questions should be directed to the MCAS Service Center at 800-737-5103.
Registration for Operational High School STE Tests: Due April 12High schools must complete the Student Registration/Personal Needs Profile (SR/PNP) process between April 1 and April 12 to order tests for the operational high school STE tests (paper-based only), which will be administered on June 4 and 5. (There is an additional window from April 22 to May 3 for completing the SR/PNP for the computer-based Biology and Introductory Physics field tests.)
To provide assistance with completing the SR/PNP, the Department posted .CSV files for schools and districts in DESE's Security Portal in DropBox Central in the MCAS 2019 Data folder on March 22. Each file contains a list of students who are eligible to take the high school STE tests in grades 9, 10, 11, and 12 (i.e., the students listed are those who have not yet taken a high school STE test or who have not passed a test by 2018). Note that students who passed the February Biology test will be included in the file, but schools need not to remove them. The testing contractor will complete this step in PAN before shipping materials.
As part of the registration process, schools will need to remove students who will not be testing from the file, add students to the file who will participate, and update accommodations as needed. Also, schools will need to fill in the column J in the SR/PNP file with the appropriate test code by selecting from among the following:
The data files in DropBox Central contain enrollment data that districts submitted by March 18, 2019 for districts that use the School Interoperability Framework (SIF) to submit their SIMS data as well as non-SIF districts. Districts will need to update the data files to be imported into PAN with any changes that occurred after this date.
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 April 12.
Adult/external diploma programs, test sites, DYS/SEIS, and other high schools with a special situation should contact the MCAS Service Center to place an order for the total number of materials instead of completing the SR/PNP process.
The following resources are available for guidance in completing the SR/PNP:
Questions about ordering test materials may be directed to the MCAS Service Center, and questions about policies or participation guidelines may be directed to the Office of Student Assessment Services (see contact information in the header of this update).
February Biology Results Available Next WeekOn April 5, .CSV data files containing results from the February 2019 Biology test will be posted to DropBoxes. On April 12, interactive reports will be available in Edwin Analytics. Parent/Guardian Reports will be sent later this spring.
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
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