Regional Forums on the Educational Proficiency Plan and MassCore

To:Superintendents, Principals, and Directors of Charter Schools
Copy:Guidance Directors, Counselors, Curriculum Directors, and Academic Support Coordinators
From:Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D.
Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
Date:October 6, 2008
The Department will hold four half-day informational forums to increase awareness of the Educational Proficiency Plan (EPP) and the MassCore and the role each serves in helping to reach the state's college readiness target identified in Goal Three of the Commonwealth's Readiness Project. Goal Three states: "By 2020, at least 90 percent of Massachusetts high school graduates will finish high school ready for college without having to take remedial non-credit bearing coursework." Who should attend? Superintendents, Principals or designee, Charter School and Guidance Directors, Counselors, Curriculum Directors, and Academic Support Coordinators About the Forums The forums will focus upon the importance of increasing the number of high school students who graduate college and career ready; provide information on the MassCore and on updated resources on the three required elements of the EPP; and provide forum attendees with an opportunity to hear from school district practitioners on their implementation of the EPP. Educational Proficiency Plan Starting with the graduating class of 2010, students who do not score at 240 or above on the grade 10 English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics MCAS tests must have an EPP. The EPP must identify the student's strengths and weaknesses, based on MCAS and other assessment results, coursework, grades, and teacher, student, and counselor input. It must include the courses (ELA and/or mathematics) the student will be required to take in grades 11 and 12. In addition, the EPP should include the assessments that will be used to measure the student's progress towards reaching proficiency. For School Year 2008-2009, the Department has approved four assessment options:
  • Locally developed end-of-course assessment in English language arts and/or mathematics
  • Grade 10 MCAS test forms designed for the EPP in which scoring will be done at the local level
  • The College Board's Accuplacer test. Accuplacer is required for students entering Massachusetts public colleges and the University of Massachusetts and is used to determine readiness for placement into credit bearing math and English coursework
  • State Algebra II end-of-course test being developed by Pearson under the direction of Achieve, Inc.
Additional information on each assessment option along with an updated EPP Question and Answer document will be posted to http://www.doe.mass.edu/ccr/epp/ in October. MassCore MassCore recommends a comprehensive set of subject area courses and units as well as other learning opportunities that are to be completed before graduating from high school. The recommended program of studies includes: four years of English, four years of mathematics, three years of a lab-based science, three years of history, two years of the same foreign language, one year of an arts program, and five additional "core" courses such as business education, health, and/or technology. MassCore includes additional learning opportunities including AP classes, dual enrollment, a senior project, online courses for high school or college credit, and service or work-based learning. Additional MassCore information can be found at http://www.doe.mass.edu/ccr/masscore/. Forum Dates/Locations/Times Please register at the location desired at http://www.doe.mass.edu/conference/?ConferenceID=564. If you need additional information on the Forums, please contact Donna Pisaturo at dpisaturo@doe.mass.edu
DatesLocationsTime
October 22, 2008Greater Lawrence RVTS, Andover9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
October 24, 2008Hudson High School, Hudson9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
October 29, 2008Wareham Middle School, Wareham9:00 a.m. – 12:00 p.m.
October 30, 2008Meline Kasparian Professional Development Center, Springfield9:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.




Last Updated: October 10, 2008



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