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Assessment/Accountability MCAS
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

Release of MCAS February 2009 Biology Test Results and March 2009 Retest Results

To:Superintendents, High School Principals, and Directors of Charter Schools, Educational Collaboratives, Approved Special Education Private Schools, and Institutional Schools
From:Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D.
Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
Date:March 17, 2009

stopline

I am writing to provide you with information about the release of results from the MCAS February 2009 Biology test and the March 2009 English Language Arts and Mathematics retests. The printed reports of student results from the February Biology test and March retests will be received by districts in one shipment on May 20, 2009.

TimelineMilestones Related to Release of Results
February 2009 Biology Test-Preliminary Results
Friday, March 20 February 2009 Biology test: preliminary rosters and data files posted electronically on the MCAS Service Center website
March 20-March 27 Discrepancy reporting period
March 27Deadline for discrepancy reporting
March 2009 Retests-Preliminary Results
Tuesday, April 21March 2009 retests: preliminary rosters and data files posted electronically on the MCAS Service Center website
April 21-April 29Discrepancy reporting period
April 29Deadline for discrepancy reporting
February 2009 Biology Test and March 2009 Retests-Final Results
Wednesday, May 20
  • Printed reports of student results received by districts
  • Final electronic test results posted to the MCAS Service Center website
Thursday, May 21March 2009 ELA retest: students' compositions posted electronically on the MCAS Service Center website

Accessing Data Files through MCAS Service Center Online

To access data files on the MCAS Service Center, visit www.mcasservicecenter.com/ and select "MCAS." Next, select "MCAS Reporting" from the menu on the left. Choose your district and school from the drop-down menus and enter your password mailed to you in the Commissioner's memorandum dated January 2, 2009. Finally, select the "Report" option at the top of the screen. The data files can be loaded into Excel or the latest version of TestWiz at www.testwiz.com/home.aspx.

If you do not find any allowable discrepancies to report for a student in the preliminary results, you may share his or her preliminary results with the student, the student's parents/guardians, and/or teachers. Please be advised that MCAS records are confidential and should only be shared with authorized school personnel, the student, and the student's parents/guardians.

Reporting Discrepancies

Detailed instructions for reporting discrepancies that are allowed are posted on the MCAS reporting page at www.mcasservicecenter.com/. It is important that you read these instructions carefully before reporting any discrepancies.

In order for a discrepancy to be considered for inclusion in the final results, it must be reported to the MCAS Service Center by the following deadlines:

  • February 2009 Biology test: 5:00 p.m., Friday, March 27, 2009
  • March 2009 retests: 5:00 p.m., Wednesday, April 29, 2009

To report a discrepancy, follow the steps described under "Accessing Data files through MCAS Service Center Online." Next, click "Discrepancy Reporting" at the top of the screen.

Printed Reports of Student Results

On May 20, 2009, districts will receive printed reports of student results for the February 2009 Biology test and the March 2009 retests.

If you have questions about accessing the data files or the discrepancy reporting tool, please call MCAS Service Center at 800-737-5103. If you have questions about MCAS reporting policies, call Student Assessment Services at 781-338-3625.

Last Updated: March 18, 2009

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