Assessment/Accountability MCAS
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

MEPA Reporting and Guidance to Districts on Planning Instructional Programming for English Language Learner (ELL) Students

Given that we will be setting standards for MEPA this summer, results will not be available in June as usual. However, in order to assist you in making decisions regarding instructional planning and reclassification of LEP students, I am enclosing some information that may assist you with your recommendations. I encourage you to use as much available and relevant information as possible to make these important decisions.

In addition to reviewing the student's 2008 MEPA and MCAS test results, the student's scores of locally-administered diagnostic language assessments, and the observations and recommendations of the student's classroom teachers, I encourage you to evaluate the student's performance in light of the new MEPA performance level descriptors    which will be used during the Department's standard setting activities this summer. These descriptors will also be used as the basis for reporting MEPA performance level and scaled score results in September 2009. Performance on the spring 2009 MEPA will be reported using five performance levels: Levels 1, 2, 3, 4, and a new fifth level, Reclassification Recommended.

Please be aware that an LEP student may also be reclassified to formerly LEP status in September after MEPA scores have been received by the district. The Department will provide additional guidance on reclassifying students at the time MEPA results are reported. Changes in a student's status must be reported in the district's October 1 SIMS data submission.

As you determine the instructional programming needs of LEP students for the next school year, I would like to remind you that the amount of English language development instruction should be appropriate for the student's English language proficiency level and must support his or her development of academic English proficiency. The Department's Guidelines for Planning Instructional Programming for LEP Students issued in June 2005, established instructional program standards, including the recommended number of hours of daily English language development instruction for students.

I plan to provide you with additional information and a detailed timeline for the release of MEPA results in September. Thank you for your attention to this important information.

If you have questions about instructional planning and classification of LEP students, please contact the Office of English Language Acquisition at 781-338-3518. For questions about MEPA, contact the Student Assessment Services Office at 781-338-3625.