Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

Request for High Schools to Order MCAS Biology Test Materials by November 2, 2012

To:	Superintendents, High School Principals, and Directors of Charter Schools, Approved Private Special Education Schools, Educational Collaboratives, and Institutional Programs
From:	Elizabeth Davis, Associate Commissioner of Student Assessment
Date:	October 24, 2012

High school principals will be able to order test materials for the February 2013 MCAS Biology test administration between October 29 and November 2, 2012. A response is required, even if no test materials are needed. Ordering Information
Beginning Monday, October 29, 2012, materials can be ordered online at MCAS Service Center.com by following the steps below.

Select MCAS from the menu.
Select Enrollment Verification from the list of options.
Use the secure password sent in early January 2012.
Follow the online instructions.

Superintendents must ensure that special education schools and educational collaboratives place orders for sufficient quantities of test materials for their district's students who are in out-of-district placements. The February 2013 administration of the MCAS Biology test is the first time that results of a Science and Technology/Engineering test will be used to partially determine eligibility for the John and Abigail Adams Scholarship (along with ELA and Mathematics test results). Please refer to the Department's website at John and Abigail Adams Scholarship for more information about the Adams Scholarship and refer to Student Participation Guidelines for the High School Tests and Retests for detailed participation guidelines. As you know, administrators' leadership in maintaining the security of test materials is essential to a successful test administration. After orders for materials are placed, it is important to prepare for their arrival in school buildings by completing the following activities:

reviewing MCAS test security requirements (posted online at MCAS Biology Test Administration Resources)
establishing a document tracking system
designating a locked facility to securely store test materials
reviewing plans for maintaining test security so that superintendents are comfortable with their principals' procedures in their school buildings

If you have questions about ordering test materials or your password to access the MCAS Service Center website, please contact the MCAS Service Center at 800-737-5103. If you have policy questions or questions about participation guidelines, call the Student Assessment Services Unit at 781-338-3625. Thank you.

Last Updated: October 25, 2012