Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

Student Assessment Updates

Principals, MCAS test coordinators, special education directors, and EL program directors automatically receive the Student Assessment Update based on contact information submitted to the Department. To change your email address or to add another staff member who serves in one of these roles, please follow the instructions below:

Public school districts, public schools, charter public schools, educational collaboratives, approved private special education schools, and alternative education programs: Submit the new email address to your District-Level Directory Administrator.
Test sites, adult education programs, out-of-state schools, SEIS-DYS programs: Go online to the EOE Information Technology web page (select "District/School Information Update" as the subject) to submit your update (be sure to include your District and School Code).

Others who wish to subscribe can use the subscribe and unsubscribe links in the footer of one of the editions below. Please contact mcas@doe.mass.edu with any questions or comments.

2021

October 19, 2021
For All Schools
1. 2021–2022 Statewide Testing Schedule and Administration Deadlines
2. Translations of MCAS Parent/Guardian Reports and Letters to Parents/Guardians
3. Reminders from the Previous Update
For High Schools
1. Manuals for November Retests Now Available
2. Update on Eligibility Guidelines for the November 2021 MCAS Retests for Adams Scholarship
3. MCAS Interim Passing Standard for CD Extended
4. Technology Preparations for Next-Generation November 2021 Retests
5. Reminders from the Previous Update
October 5, 2021
For All Schools
1. Parent/Guardian Reports Delivered to Districts and Now Available in PearsonAccess Next
2. Updates to TestNav and PAN
3. Extending Application Deadline for MCAS Assessment Development Committees and the MCAS Bias and Sensitivity Committee—Now Due Friday, October 8
4. ACCESS for ELLs
5. Reminders from the Previous Update
For High Schools
1. Modified CD Data for Round 7 Available for the Classes of 2020 and 2021 in DropBoxes
2. High School Science MCAS Update
3. PearsonAccess Next Passwords and Accounts: Confirm Accounts at This Time
4. Availability of TestNav; Requests to Test Outside Regular Hours
5. John and Abigail Adams Scholarship Letters
6. New Operational Report: Students with Multiple Tests of the Same Subject Area
7. Reminders from the Previous Update
September 22, 2021
For All Schools
1. MCAS Retest Design Updates
2. Math and STE Equation Editor
3. Now Accepting Applications for MCAS Assessment Development Committees and the MCAS Bias and Sensitivity Committee—Due Date September 30
4. MCAS English Language Arts Released Essays Available
5. ACCESS for ELLs
6. Reminders from the Previous Update
For High Schools
1. November 2021 Retest Testing Schedule
2. MCAS BYOD Participation: Notify DESE by Friday, October 15
3. Technology Support Prior to Computer-Based Testing
4. Reminders from the Previous Update
September 15, 2021
1. Official Embargoed MCAS Data Files Available Wednesday, September 15; Edwin Reports Available Friday, September 17
2. MCAS 2021 Reporting Information Sessions on September 17
September 7, 2021
1. About This Update
2. Information for New Test Coordinators
3. Official Embargoed MCAS Data Files Available Wednesday, September 15; Edwin Reports Available Friday, September 17
4. Parent/Guardian Report Delivered to Districts and Available in PAN on Thursday, September 30
5. View New Edwin Analytics Interface: Webinar with Q & A September 16
6. TestNav System Requirements and Updated App Available for 2021–22
7. Accessibility and Accommodations Resources Now Available
8. Grade-Level and Competency Portfolios
9. MCAS Alternate Assessment Results
For High Schools
1. Process to Request a Waiver from the MCAS CBT Expectation for November Retests: Submit by September 20
2. MCAS Performance Appeals
3. Reminders from the Previous Update: Information on the November Retests
September 1, 2021, Special Edition
1. Registration for the November Retests: Window Opens on September 20
2. Participation Guidelines for the November 2021 MCAS Retests in ELA and Mathematics
3. Infrastructure Trial Window for the Next-Generation November Retest Administration Opens Monday, September 27
4. MCAS Training Sessions for the November 2021 Retests
August 19, 2021, Special Edition
1. Full Preliminary MCAS Data Files Available Thursday, August 19
August 9, 2021, Special Edition
1. Initial Release of the 2021–2022 MCAS and ACCESS for ELLs Testing Schedule
2. Partial Preliminary MCAS Data Files Available by Tuesday, August 10
3. MCAS Discrepancy Reporting Window: August 10–13
4. Reporting Schedule Update
5. English Language Arts Released Student Essays Available
July 6, 2021, Special Edition
July 2, 2021, Special Edition
June 16, 2021
June 15, 2021, Special Edition
June 8, 2021
June 7, 2021, Special Edition
June 3, 2021, Special Edition
May 26, 2021
May 17, 2021, Special Edition for Grades 3–8
May 12, 2021
May 7, 2021, Special Edition
May 4, 2021
April 28, 2021
April 13, 2021
April 9, 2021
March 23, 2021
March 10, 2021
March 5, 2021
March 2, 2021, Special Edition
February 23, 2021
February 11, 2021
February 2, 2021
January 25, 2021
January 20, 2021
January 19, 2021
January 8, 2021
January 5, 2021

2020

Last Updated: October 20, 2021