MCAS Alternate Assessment (MCAS-Alt)

MCAS Alternate Assessment (MCAS-Alt) Fall Training Opportunities

To:	Superintendents, Principals, and Directors of Charter Schools, Educational Collaboratives, Approved Private Special Education Schools, and Institutional Settings
Copy:	Interested Educators
From:	Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D. Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
Date:	August 22, 2012

The Department will conduct MCAS-Alt training sessions in October according to the schedule listed in the table below. Educators who are conducting the MCAS-Alt are strongly encouraged to attend one of the training sessions to learn about current MCAS-Alt requirements. Attendance is especially recommended for teachers who have not previously compiled an MCAS-Alt portfolio. Flyers and registration information for the fall training sessions will be posted in early September to the MCAS-Alt website at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/alt/resources.html and will be faxed to each district, school, and collaborative. The MCAS-Alt educator training sessions will include the following presentations:

MCAS-Alt Overview for educators who are conducting the MCAS-Alt for the first time
What's New for 2013 MCAS-Alt for educators with previous MCAS-Alt experience
Sessions on the following specific topics:
- Data-collection strategies
- Compiling grade-level portfolios for students in grades 3-8 and competency portfolios for high school students
- Access skills for students with the most significant cognitive disabilities

Training Schedule
Week 1		Week 2
10/1 - Mon.	Quincy Marriott	10/15 - Mon.	Peabody Marriott
10/3 - Wed.	Danvers Doubletree (formerly CoCo Key)	10/16 - Tues.	Taunton Holiday Inn
10/4 - Thurs.	Taunton Holiday Inn	10/18 - Thurs.	Marlborough Best Western
10/5 - Fri.	Springfield Marriott	10/19 - Fri.	Springfield Marriott

Please share this information with MCAS-Alt educators in your school and district because they may be at a disadvantage if they do not attend one of these training sessions. The 2013 Educator's Manual for MCAS-Alt will be available at the sessions. If you have any questions, please contact Debra Hand in the Student Assessment Services office by phone at 781-338-3625 or by email at dhand@doe.mass.edu. Thank you.

Last Updated: August 28, 2012