Release of the 2019–2020 MCAS Testing ScheduleWe are pleased to release the 2019–2020 MCAS testing schedule. Districts and schools should review the test dates planned for the next school year, along with the guidance provided on the testing schedule webpage.
Clarification on Test Security ProtocolsThis notice is to provide clarification about the steps that schools should take if a student reports a concern about an MCAS test question. If a student reports to a teacher or other educator that he or she has a concern with a test question (e.g., the student thinks there is a problem with the question, the student is uncomfortable with the content of the question for a non-academic reason), the school should call Student Assessment Services for consultation and guidance, as needed. Students and school staff should continue to refrain from discussing secure test content among other students or educators, except as needed to report the issue.
Deadline to Apply for Standard-Setting Panels Extended until May 17DESE is pleased to invite educators and other stakeholders to apply to participate in a standard-setting meeting for the next-generation MCAS tests for grades 5 and 8 STE and grade 10 ELA and Mathematics. The meeting will take place August 5–7, 2019.
The deadline to apply has been extended to Friday, May 17, 2019. Principals are encouraged to share the application information with educators at their schools.
Schools should have completed the tasks through the end of the day on May 7, but if they have not, they may do so by the end of this week.
Schools doing paper-based testing should have given all of their paper-based ELA materials to the UPS driver during the prescheduled May 7 pickup (unless they scheduled an earlier pickup). May 7 was the deadline for pickup of materials, so schools should contact the MCAS Service Center at 800-737-5103 as soon as possible if a pickup was not made as expected.
MCAS Performance Appeals: May 31 DeadlineThe next deadline for submitting MCAS cohort appeals is Friday, May 31. Appeals will be reviewed in early June, with notification of findings sent to superintendents by June 7. This will be the final MCAS cohort appeals review for the 2018-2019 school year. Questions may be directed to mcasappeals@doe.mass.edu.
Resource for the High School Biology and Introductory Physics Field TestsSchools may want to send letters to parents/guardians to provide information about the upcoming field tests.
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:
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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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