Assessment/Accountability MCAS
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

Instructions for Ordering Materials for the November MCAS Retests and Fall MEPA (Deadline to Respond: September 18, 2009)

• November MCAS English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics retests
• Fall MEPA tests for specified LEP students in grades 1-12

For both administrations, materials must be ordered between August 31 and September 18.*

A response to the MEPA enrollment verification form for ordering materials is required by all principals, and a response to the retest form is required by all high school principals, even if no students are scheduled to participate in an administration.

MCAS Retests

When preparing for test administration and ordering materials, remember that all Massachusetts students educated at public expense, including students enrolled in educational collaboratives and private special education schools, who are seeking to obtain a Massachusetts high school diploma are required to meet the Competency Determination (CD) standard. Superintendents must ensure that schools and programs that serve their students, both inside and outside the district and state, order retest materials for students who are eligible and choose to participate.

The following additional information is available on the Department's website:

• MCAS retest administration dates: www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/cal.html
• New CD graduation requirements beginning with the class of 2010: www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/graduation.html
• Participation guidelines for MCAS retests: www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/participation/retest.html
• Sample non-participation form and letter (in English and translations): www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/testadmin/nonpart/

MEPA

Limited English Proficient (LEP) students enrolled in grades 1-12 in fall 2009 who did not participate in spring 2009 MEPA testing must participate in fall 2009 MEPA testing. Students in kindergarten are not required to participate in fall 2009 MEPA testing. MEPA participation guidelines are posted at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/participation/?section=lep.

Since students in grades 1 and 2 participate in either the Level A or Level B MEPA-R/W tests, principals must specify the number of Level A and Level B tests they need when ordering materials. The Department recommends the use of a locator survey, which is posted at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/mepa/testadmin/, to help educators determine which level (A or B) to administer to each LEP student in grades 1 and 2 who will participate in fall MEPA testing.

Instructions for Ordering Materials

Principals must go online to www.mcasservicecenter.com.

• For the November retests, select MCAS from the menu and then select Enrollment Verification from the list of options.
• For MEPA, select MEPA from the menu and then select Enrollment Verification from the list of options.

All other instructions necessary for updating shipping information and completing the enrollment verification form for ordering test materials are provided as part of the online tool.

Please contact the MCAS Service Center at 800-737-5103 if you have any questions about ordering test materials. As always, please direct questions about policy and guidelines for participation to the Student Assessment Services Unit at 781-338-3625.

Additional information about these test administrations, including the test administration manuals, will be posted later this fall at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/ for the retests and www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/mepa/testadmin/ for MEPA.

Thank you for your assistance.

* A memorandum regarding the ordering of materials for the February 2010 MCAS Biology test will be posted in November 2009.