Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

Competency Determination Student Status Update

To:Superintendents, High School Principals, and Directors of Charter Schools, Approved Private Special Education Schools, Educational Collaboratives, and Institutional Programs
Copy:Guidance Directors
From:Mitchell D. Chester, Ed.D.
Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education
Date:June 10, 2011
I am pleased to inform you that data files showing the Competency Determination (CD) attainment status of students reported as enrolled in grades 10-12 in your district or school in the March 2011 SIMS are now available at the Department's Security Portal. Please review these data as you prepare for the submission of the SIMS data in June. The CD status data reflect the following:
  • MCAS results through the March 2011 retests in English Language Arts and Mathematics
  • MCAS Performance Appeals through May 17, 2011
  • MCAS-Alt results through the spring 2010 tests
  • MCAS-Alt Portfolio Appeals through May 12, 2011
The data files (in Excel format) have been placed in district and school MCAS 2011 Data dropboxes at DropBox Central in the Department's Security Portal at www4.doemass.org/auth/Login/. Only individuals with the MCAS DropBox security role have access to these data. Contact your district-level Directory Administrator if you have questions about accessing the data. A list of Directory Administrators is available at www.doe.mass.edu/infoservices/data/diradmin/list.aspx. Please note that these data are more comprehensive and up-to-date than data you will find in the Department's Education Data Warehouse. As a reminder, student-level results are confidential and may only be reviewed by authorized school personnel, students, and their parents and/or guardians in accordance with federal and state confidentiality laws. Information about high school graduation requirements, as well as information about retesting opportunities and Educational Proficiency Plans (EPPs), is available on the Department's website at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/graduation.html. If you have any questions about the data, please contact Student Assessment Services at mcas@doe.mass.edu or 781-338-3625.



Last Updated: June 14, 2011