Upcoming MCAS Training Sessions As a reminder, the following training sessions will be held next month:
We are pleased to announce new details for the "Introduction to MCAS Computer-Based Testing for New Staff" session. As part of the session, Department staff would like to include answers to specific questions about preparations and readiness for computer-based testing. Please email mcas@doe.mass.edu by November 13 with requests for specific topics to be covered.
In addition, the "Introduction to MCAS Computer-Based Testing for New Staff" session will include a special district presentation led by the Swampscott Public Schools test administration team—Lytania Mackey Knowles, Director of Technology & Digital Learning, and Catie Porter Roberts, Digital Learning Specialist & Professional Development Coordinator.
PearsonAccess Next (PAN) Passwords Passwords for PearsonAccess Next (PAN), the online test management system, expire every 180 days. School and district staff, particularly those who had access to PAN during last school year but have not yet used PAN this school year, should update their passwords. If a user's password expires, they will receive an email with a link to reset their password, or they can select the "Forgot Password" link on the PAN Sign In page.
Reminder: MCAS BYOD Participation: Notify DESE by Friday, December 6 Schools that have a "bring your own device" (BYOD) policy and would like to follow this practice for MCAS testing in spring 2020 will need to email mcas@doe.mass.edu by Friday, December 6, for instructions on preparing devices. A BYOD policy allows students to bring their own devices to school for use during regular instruction.
November Retest Administration Updates and Reminders
November Retest Manuals Schools should receive their shipments of November retest materials tomorrow, October 30. Paper copies of the Principal's Administration Manual (PAM) and Test Administrator's Manual will be included in the shipment, and are also available online.
Page v of the PAM lists procedures that are new, procedures that are different from the grade 10 tests, and procedures that were introduced in spring 2019 and now apply to the fall/winter administrations.
November Retest Resources Special guidelines for participation in the November ELA retest were sent to schools by email. Questions about participation guidelines or test security requirements may be directed to the Department (see the contact information in the header of this update). Contact the MCAS Service Center with questions about logistics.
Other administration resources are now available, including this PowerPoint template , which principals may want to use while developing the school's training session.
Sample administration forms and materials are now available on a new page (instead of in the PAM). Many of these forms are in a format that can be easily completed online.
New Procedure for Returning Materials Beginning with the November retests, schools will return test materials in a single return shipment (instead of separate scorable and nonscorable shipments). In addition, schools will return materials using the original shipping cartons. Additional cartons will not automatically be shipped to schools; schools should retain all original shipping cartons for use when returning materials.
Reminders from the Previous Update
Nonscorable Compositions for the ELA Retest High schools are encouraged to remind students of the importance of writing a composition that uses a work of literature to address the retest writing prompt. Compositions that do not address the writing prompt or are not based on a work of literature will be considered nonscorable. Educators may wish to view previously administered writing prompts, scoring guides, and sample student work at each legacy composition score point.
John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Letters for Distribution High schools are responsible for distributing letters to students in the class of 2020 who have qualified to receive the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship. Printed letters will be delivered to districts tomorrow (and PDFs are now available in the MCAS Service Center). Additional steps were included in the previous update.
The letter is important because students must provide a copy of it to their college/university each year, along with their completed FAFSA application. Without this letter, the college/university will not apply the tuition credit.
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.