A message from the
Massachusetts Department of
Elementary and Secondary Education

March 15, 2022

News from DESE Student Assessment Services

For All Schools

1. Update to PearsonAccess Next (PAN): Dashboards Feature
New for spring 2022, a Dashboards feature is now available in PAN. Dashboards provide a visual display of information available elsewhere in PAN, including the status of student tests and PAN Sessions. Dashboards are available to PAN users who have been assigned the district test coordinator, school test coordinator, or technology coordinator role. Please see these slides on the MCAS Resource Center, which describe how to use the dashboards.

2. Update on Returning Materials for Paper-Based Testing (PBT)
Schools doing PBT will receive small, flat boxes for the return of materials. Instead of using the original shipping cartons to return materials as instructed in the Principal’s Administration Manual, schools should use the small, flat boxes. No other changes to returning materials are needed, but schools may contact the MCAS Service Center at 800-737-5103 with any questions or to request additional small boxes.

In addition, schools will notice that a UPS Return Service label has been placed on each Return Envelope, in which used booklets are packed (and returned in the new small boxes). In the unlikely case that a school’s return shipment is damaged in transit, the label on the envelope will assist UPS in routing the booklets to Cognia for scoring as soon as possible.

3. Steps to Complete Before Submitting MCAS-Alt Portfolios

Principals should complete the following steps prior to submitting MCAS-Alt portfolios on April 1.

Prior to the pick-up date:

a. Prepare each student’s three-ring binder.
Include all required forms and evidence for each student in a single three-ring binder. Label all audio/visual and other unattached materials with the student’s name and SASID.

b. Complete and submit one MCAS-Alt Student Identification Booklet (SIB) for each student who participated in the MCAS-Alt.

Complete the SIB according to instructions enclosed in the MCAS-Alt materials shipped to your school in February. (A sample SIB is posted here.)
Affix the student’s label on the front cover of the SIB. If you do not have a student label, bubble in the information.
Insert the completed SIB in the front inside pocket of each binder.

c. Complete the Materials Summary.
Complete the Materials Summary form received in your school’s shipment of binders and submission materials. Follow the directions on the form in the “After Portfolio Submission” section and approve, sign, and return it with your binder shipment. Make a copy of the completed form for your records.

d. Pack materials for return in the box provided with your shipment in February.
Put each student’s binder in a large plastic envelope. Do NOT seal the large plastic envelope. Complete a label like the one shown below for each binder and affix it to the outside of the plastic envelope. Return unused binders and SIBs with your shipment.

Picture of label. Massachusetts 2022 Alternate Assessment. Student: School: Teacher: Grade:.

e. Schedule your school’s pickup of MCAS-Alt materials.
Schedule a UPS pickup of materials through the MCAS Service Center no later than 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, March 31. Materials must be picked up no later than 5:00 p.m. on Friday, April 1. If materials are ready for submission before the deadline, schools are encouraged to schedule an early UPS pickup prior to the deadline.

f. Complete Sections 3 and 4 of the online MCAS-Alt Principal's Certification of Proper Administration (PCPA).
To access the online PCPA, please go to www.mcasservicecenter.com, click on “MCAS Alternate Assessment,” then click on “Principal Certification.” Once at the PCPA, please follow the instructions to complete Sections 3 and 4. After completing all sections, click “Continue to Certification.” Review the principal certification statements, complete your digital signature, and confirm using the same password used to log in to the PCPA. Click “I certify that these statements are true,” and then print/save the generated PCPA PDF file for your records.

g. Retain copies of documents at the school.
This includes packing slips, materials summaries, a printout of the PCPA, and UPS tracking numbers and confirmations.

4. Reminder from the Previous Update: Updates to Operating Systems
Schools that are considering updating the operating systems on their testing devices should first confirm that the update is supported by TestNav. As detailed in this technical bulletin, iOS 15.0 and 15.1 will not be supported for spring 2022 MCAS testing; schools that are currently running these operating systems should plan on updating student devices to at least iOS 15.2 prior to MCAS testing. Please see the previous update for further information.

For High Schools

1. MCAS Portfolio Appeals Submission Deadline: April 1
Portfolio Appeals must be submitted online using the Department’s Security Portal by April 1, 2022. Please review the PowerPoint guide for information on how to submit the online appeals application. Questions should be directed to MCASappeals@doe.mass.edu.

2. Reminders from the Previous Update
a. Round 9 Modified CD Data in DropBoxes and Edwin Analytics
The Department has concluded its review of modified Competency Determination (CD) Round 9 data. Results from round 9 are now available in the MCAS 2022 Data DropBoxes in .CSV files [e.g., Modified_CD_round_9_Feb2022_....CSV]. Please see the previous update for further information.

b. Results from the February Biology Test
Results for the February 2022 Biology test are scheduled to be available beginning in April. The .CSV files are scheduled to be posted to the DESE Security Portal on April 1, with reports available in Edwin Analytics on April 8. Please see the previous update for further information.

c. Biology and Introductory Physics MCAS Standard Setting Panels 
The Department is recruiting educators with experience teaching grades 9 and 10 biology or physics to participate in standard setting for the high school MCAS Biology and Introductory Physics tests. The meetings will be held from August 9–12, 2022, and panelists will be offered a $200/day stipend. The purpose of the standard setting is to identify and recommend achievement level cut scores for the Biology and Introductory Physics tests.

Information about applicant qualifications and about how to apply is posted on the Department’s website. The deadline to apply is Monday, March 28, 2022. We ask that you share this opportunity with relevant educators in your school or district.

Other Important Dates

Table with Category, Date(s), and Item. March Retests, March 15, Mathematics Session 1. March 16, Mathematics Session 2. March 18, Last date for regular makeup testing. March 21, Deadline for updating SR/PNP information and marking students’ tests complete, if necessary. Deadline to complete the PCPA. March 22, For PBT accommodations: pre-scheduled UPS pickup (and deadline). Spring Grades 3–8, February 7–March 25 (for ELA), February 4–April 22 (for Math/STE), Extended pre-administration SR/PNP window for CBT. March 14–24, If necessary, order additional manuals and ELA PBT materials for accommodations, and report packing discrepancies for PBT shipments. March 21, Operational test content will be available for precaching, but schools should not precache until one week prior to the start of the testing window for each subject area. (Optional; see recommendations on precaching). March 28–April 29, ELA testing window. Spring Grade 10 ELA, February 7–March 21, Extended pre-administration SR/PNP window for ELA CBT. March 15, ELA operational test content will be available for precaching. March 8–18, If necessary, order additional manuals and ELA PBT materials for accommodations, and report packing discrepancies for PBT shipments. March 22, ELA Session 1. March 23, ELA Session 2. March 24, Only if needed to test any remaining students who did not participate in the first set of dates due to technology/device limitations: ELA Session 1. March 25 , Only if needed to test any remaining students who did not participate in the first set of dates due to technology/device limitations: ELA Session 2. March 30, Last date for regular make-up testing. March 31, Deadline for updating SR/PNP information and marking students’ tests complete, if necessary. April 1, For PBT accommodations: pre-scheduled UPS pickup (and deadline).

Additional Resources

CONTACT

MCAS Service Center
for logistical support, including tech support for PearsonAccess Next and TestNav

Email: mcas@cognia.org
Phone: 800-737-5103

Student Assessment Services

for policy questions, including student participation

Email: mcas@doe.mass.edu
Phone: 781-338-3625

Schedule a Call with Technology Support Specialists
available prior to test administration

Principals, MCAS test coordinators, special education directors, and EL program directors will receive the update automatically. See this page for details. For others wishing to receive this update, please subscribe

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