Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

Student Assessment Update: May 8, 2019

Contact Information

Latest Updates from Student Assessment Services

For All Schools

1. Release of the 2019–2020 MCAS Testing Schedule
   We 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.

2. Clarification on Test Security Protocols
   This 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.

3. Deadline to Apply for Standard-Setting Panels Extended until May 17
   DESE 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.

For Grades 3–8

1. End-of-Administration Tasks for Grades 3–8 ELA
   At the end of the ELA testing window, schools were expected to update student information in PearsonAccess Next (PAN) according to the instructions in Appendix D of the Principal's Administration Manual (PAM). Schools should also complete the following steps:
   
   • Stop all PAN Sessions and, if necessary, remove students from "ready" status in PAN.
   • Mark students' tests "Complete" in PAN as described on pages 65–66 of the PAM and in the April 2 edition Student Assessment Update.
   
   

   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.

For High Schools

1. MCAS Performance Appeals: May 31 Deadline
   The 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.

2. Resource for the High School Biology and Introductory Physics Field Tests
   Schools may want to send letters to parents/guardians to provide information about the upcoming field tests.

Other Important Dates

Additional Resources

• Reporting
  • 2019 MCAS Early Reporting Schedule
  • 2019 Assessment & Accountability Reporting Schedule
  • Recording and slides from the MCAS Grade 10 ELA Early Release Webinar — April 29, 2019 (first session listed in the "Training Sessions Previously Offered This School Year" section at the bottom of the page)
• Frequently Asked Questions: Spring 2019 MCAS
• Guidance for technology problems that may occur during testing (see Appendix A of the Principal's Administration Manual )
• Guidance on tasks in PearsonAccess Next and TestNav (see the previous update)
• Request for Permission to Test an Adult with Accommodations for the Operational High School STE Tests form

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.