|
|
|
|
News from DESE Student Assessment Services
|
|
For All Schools
1. Resources and Support during Testing
Schools are reminded that the following resources are available.
The following reminders about test administration procedures reflect the most frequent questions coming in to DESE and the MCAS Service Center:
a. Verify Accommodations Prior to Testing
To avoid a situation that might cause a test to be voided or results to be invalidated, principals and test coordinators should follow the instructions for verifying accommodations prior to testing, as described in the Principal’s Administration Manual (PAM) on page 49. Test administrators are prompted to check students’ accommodations prior to testing in the “Before Students Arrive” section of each script in the Test Administrator’s Manual for Computer-Based Testing.
The following resources are available to assist schools when an accommodation has been incorrectly assigned:
b. Managing PAN Sessions
The Training page of the MCAS Resource Center contains training modules to help schools complete tasks in PearsonAccess Next. Three that may be of particular use during testing are the Creating Sessions, Sessions Management, and Moving Students Between Sessions modules.
c. Enrollment Transfers
When a student transfers into a new school and will be testing there, the first step that the new school should take in PAN is to attempt to create the student record. This should be done before submitting an Enrollment Transfer Work Request. Please see the full step-by-step instructions in the Enrollment Transfer Guide.
d. Principal’s Certification of Proper Test Administration (PCPA) Online Form
The grades 3–8 PCPA is combined for ELA, Math, and STE, and should not be completed until the end of the Math/STE administration. Similarly, the grade 10 PCPA is combined for both ELA and Math and should not be completed until the end of the grade 10 Math window (there is a second PCPA for high schools to complete after STE testing in June).
There are no tasks to complete with the PCPAs during ELA, and the PCPAs do not open until the beginning of the Math/STE windows. The dates to complete them are included in the statewide testing schedule (download link), and instructions for completing the PCPA can be found on page 56 of the PAM.
|
|
2. Availability of TestNav during the Week of April 17
TestNav will not be available during the week of April 17 due to April school vacation. If a school is in session and would like to request permission to conduct testing that week, follow the steps in the PAM on pages 26–27 in section e.
|
|
3. Manuals Shipments
Schools are reminded that that they received a combined shipment of manuals for both ELA and Mathematics testing (and grades 5 and 8 STE). Schools should keep their manuals after ELA testing in order to use them for Mathematics and grades 5 and 8 STE. High schools will receive a second shipment of manuals for high school STE testing.
|
|
4. Middle Names in PAN for Grades 3–8
In the initial spring 2023 grades 3–8 SR/PNP files that DESE placed in DropBoxes, column G (Middle Initial) was auto-populated with “N” for students with no middle initial. This error has been corrected by DESE in PearsonAccess Next. The Middle Initial field is now blank for all students with no middle initial. No steps are required by schools or districts. Please reach out to the MCAS Service Center with any questions.
|
|
5. Clarification on Using the Speech-to-Text Accommodation
Speech-to-text is a voice recognition program or device that converts speech into text and is used by students to produce responses. Schools should note that speech-to-text is available for certain MCAS tests and requires steps in PAN as described below.
Students using the speech-to-text accommodation for the computer-based MCAS tests listed below will be able to use an embedded speech-to-text web extension that functions within TestNav. The Web Extension AT designation must be selected in PAN to receive this embedded tool – column AQ of the SR/PNP file.
- ELA tests (special access accommodation SA3.2)
- Grades 5 and 8 STE tests (accommodation A10.2)
- Biology (accommodation A10.2)
The embedded web extension for speech-to-text is not available for Mathematics or Introductory Physics due to its incompatibility with the Equation Editor answer box used for constructed responses. For students with a speech-to-text accommodation (A10.2) for MCAS Mathematics or Introductory Physics, there are two options:
- Option 1: Students may use their own speech-to-text devices on a separate computer; responses must be transcribed into the student’s test.
- Option 2: Because scribing is equivalent access, the student can use a scribe accommodation instead of speech-to-text, if necessary. IEPs may include the following language: “Speech-to-text, or scribe if appropriate.”
|
|
6. MCAS-Alt Submission Follow-Up
If your school has not yet done so, principals must now complete Sections 3 and 4 of the online MCAS-Alt PCPA. To access the online PCPA, go to www.mcasservicecenter.com, click “MCAS Alternate Assessment,” and then click “Principal Certification.” Once at the PCPA, follow the instructions to complete Sections 3 and 4. After completing those sections, click “Continue to Certification.” Review the PCPA statements, complete your digital signature, and confirm using the same password you used to log in to the PCPA. Click “I certify that these statements are true,” and then print/save the generated PDF file for your records.
|
|
7. Reminders from the Previous Update
a. Updating Operating Systems
As a reminder, student testing devices must be updated to an operating system that meets the TestNav System Requirements. Schools that attempt to use an unsupported or beta version of an operating system may experience TestNav errors as well as security issues. Please share this information with your technology coordinators and contact the MCAS Service Center with any questions about technology requirements.
b. Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Field Test Feedback Survey and Materials Return
We ask that you help ensure the new Alternate ACCESS for ELLs test is the best it can be by completing the field test feedback survey by May 5.
All Alternate ACCESS for ELLs Field Test materials must be returned no later than April 19. If your school will be on vacation the week of April 17, please return materials by April 14. Please see the previous update for further information.
|
|
For High Schools
1. MCAS/EPP Mathematics Test for Spring 2023
An Educational Proficiency Plan (EPP) is required for Massachusetts public high school students in the class of 2023 and beyond who have not yet earned the next-generation MCAS equivalent of a score of Proficient or higher on the grade 10 MCAS ELA and/or Mathematics test(s), including students who were absent in grade 10 (note that even though STE is required for the Competency Determination, it is not part of the EPP requirement). For ELA, the minimum equivalent score is 472, and for Mathematics, the minimum equivalent score is 486, so students scoring below these thresholds will require an EPP.
The MCAS/EPP Mathematics test is an option for students in the classes of 2023 and 2024 to successfully complete the mathematics assessment portion of their EPPs (other assessment options are described on DESE’s website).
Students may participate in the MCAS/EPP test as described in the table below.
| Student Score for MCAS Mathematics |
Eligibility for Participation in Spring 2023 MCAS/EPP |
| Students in grades 11 and 12 who scored between 469 and 485 (the equivalent of Needs Improvement on the legacy MCAS test) on the grade 10 MCAS Mathematics test or retests |
Eligible |
| Students in grades 11 and 12 who scored below 469 on the grade 10 MCAS Mathematics test or retests (the equivalent of Failing on the legacy MCAS test) |
Not Eligible
(Students must participate in the MCAS retests until they reach 469.) |
| Students in grades 11 and 12 who scored 486 or above on the grade 10 MCAS Mathematics test or retests (the equivalent of Proficient or Advanced on the legacy MCAS test) |
Not Eligible
(Students met the MCAS graduation requirement for Mathematics.) |
The window to administer the Mathematics MCAS/EPP test is April 24–May 5, 2023, and secure MCAS/EPP Mathematics tests are now posted to MCAS EPP DropBoxes in the DESE Security Portal (principals should consult with their Directory Administrators to find who has the MCAS EPP DropBox role for their school). The full schedule for MCAS/EPP Mathematics tasks is available.
Answers to questions about the EPP may be found in these FAQs, and other questions may be directed to the Office of Student Assessment Services (see contact information in the footer).
|
|
2. Updated MCAS Competency Determination (CD) Standard for Students in the Class of 2026 and Beyond
In August 2022, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education voted to establish new Competency Determination (CD) standards for students in the class of 2026 (current grade 9 students) and beyond. Please note that CD requirements are determined by a student's original graduating class, which is assigned when they first enter a Massachusetts high school (grade 9 for most students) and, once assigned, does not change.
DESE uses historical SIMS to determine a student’s original graduating class and will report this (beginning with the February 2023 STE administration) on MCAS Parent/Guardian Reports, .CSV data files in DropBox Central, and certain reports in Edwin Analytics that include students’ CD status. Note that graduating class will only be provided for students who are enrolled in grade 9 or above in SIMS. Additional information about graduation requirements is available online.
|
|
3. Reminder about MCAS Scores and the Interim CD Standard for Students in the Class of 2025 and Earlier
When reviewing results from the February STE tests, note that for students in the classes of 2025 and earlier, scaled scores of 467‒469 (Not Meeting Expectations) on the Biology test satisfy the interim CD standard for STE. The September 22, 2022 Student Assessment Update contains a table of the next-generation cut scores and associated CD status for the Biology and Introductory Physics tests. See item #2 above for updated CD requirements for students in the class of 2026 and beyond. Additional information about graduation requirements is available online.
|
|
4. Reminder from the Previous Update: Results from the February 2023 STE Tests
The table below contains the scheduled release dates for the results of the February 2023 high school Biology and Introductory Physics tests.
| Information Delivered |
Scheduled Delivery Date |
| .CSV files posted in the MCAS 2023 Data DropBox, in the DESE Security Portal |
April 14 |
| Student Rosters and other Interactive reports available in Edwin Analytics |
April 21 |
| Electronic Parent/Guardian Reports posted in Published Reports at the school and district levels in PearsonAccess Next |
April 28 |
| Paper Parent/Guardian Reports (one copy) delivered to district offices |
May 24 |
|
|
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
|
|
|
|
|
