Assessment/Accountability MCAS
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

High School Competency Determination (CD) Attainment Status Data Review

1. Competency Determination Requirements Beginning with the Class of 2010

   New CD requirements beginning with the class of 2010 are displayed in the table below.

   
   

   English Language Arts (ELA)	Mathematics	Science and Technology/Engineering (STE)
   Earn a scaled score of 240 (Proficient) or higher on the grade 10 MCAS ELA test OR Earn a scaled score of 220-238 (Needs Improvement) AND Fulfill Educational Proficiency Plan requirements for ELA	Earn a scaled score of 240 (Proficient) or higher on the grade 10 MCAS mathematics test OR Earn a scaled score of 220-238 (Needs Improvement) AND Fulfill Educational Proficiency Plan requirements for Mathematics	Earn a scaled score of 220 (Needs Improvement) or higher on one of the four MCAS high school STE tests

   More information about the high school graduation requirements, including information about retesting opportunities and Educational Proficiency Plans (EPPs), is posted on the Department's website at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/graduation.html.

2. Accessing Rosters of Students' CD Attainment Status

   Student rosters have been posted in the Department's Security Portal (see instructions below for accessing rosters). To coincide with the latest CD progress report at the state, district, and school levels (See http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/results.html) and in preparation for the 2009-2010 school year, the Department is providing superintendents the opportunity to review the CD attainment status for each student who was reported as enrolled as a member of the class of 2010 in the March 2009 SIMS report. The Department recommends that superintendents make these data available during the summer to assist principals, guidance counselors, and other school staff with making appropriate decisions about coursework and assessments for students in the class of 2010 who need to successfully complete an EPP in order to earn a CD. Districts with more than one high school are encouraged to provide the appropriate data to each high school.

   The rosters show students' CD attainment status based on the following MCAS administrations and MCAS appeals determinations: grade 10 ELA and Mathematics tests through spring 2008, ELA and Mathematics retests through March 2009, high school STE tests through February 2009, and MCAS appeals determinations through May 2009. Please note that the rosters have not been updated for students who met EPP requirements by scoring at the Proficient level in the winter or spring 2009 MCAS/EPP Tests. Results from the June 2009 STE tests are not yet available, and the Department will update its own CD records for students following the release of results in fall 2009. Please note that the rosters may include students who left your district and may not include students who transferred in after the March 2009 SIMS submission.

   How to Access the Rosters
   • Go to the Department's Security Portal.
   • Log in with your user name and password.
   • Select "DropBox Central" under DropBox.
   • Select "MCAS 2009 Data" and click "next."

   Confidentiality of Data
   As a reminder, student-level results are confidential and may only be reviewed by authorized school personnel, students, and their parents and/or guardians in accordance with federal and state confidentiality laws. Please ensure that your district/school procedures for maintaining the security of all confidential student data (electronic and paper copies) are rigorous and followed scrupulously by all staff with access to these data.

3. Students Requiring an EPP

   Students in the class of 2010 who districts report as high school graduates in the SIMS end of year 2010 data collection should either have earned a CD by achieving a score of at least 240 on each of the required MCAS exams or by successfully completing an EPP in each area in which they scored at least 220, but not as high as 240. Districts will be responsible for maintaining documentation indicating students' success or failure in successfully completing EPPs.

   Documentation includes the course(s) required by the student's EPP, and the assessment that was used and the date of administration.

   Thank you for your attention to this important information and for your support in helping students in the Commonwealth meet the new Competency Determination standard for the class of 2010 and beyond.

   Please contact Student Assessment Services at 781-338-3625 or mcas@doe.mass.edu with questions about the CD, MCAS testing, and updates to the student rosters. Please contact Secondary School Services at 781-338-3010 or achievement@doe.mass.edu with questions about EPPs. You may contact the Commissioner's office about MCAS Performance Appeals at 781-338-3333 or mcasappeals@doe.mass.edu. Please direct questions about accessing the Security Portal to your district's Directory Administrator. The Directory Administrator listing is found on the Department's website at: http://www.doe.mass.edu/infoservices/data/diradmin/list.asp.