Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

Request for Principals to Register for a Spring 2014 MCAS Test Administration Training Session between January 6 and 17, 2014

To:	Superintendents, Principals, and Directors of Charter Schools, Approved Private Special Education Schools, Educational Collaboratives, and Institutional Programs
Copy:	MCAS Test Coordinators
From:	Elizabeth Davis, Associate Commissioner of Student Assessment
Date:	January 6, 2014

To help principals and test coordinators prepare for the spring 2014 MCAS test administration, the Department will conduct training sessions beginning in late January. Below is a schedule of the training sessions. First-year principals and principals who did not participate in 2012 or 2013 are required to participate. Their participation in a face-to-face session is recommended, if possible. Other principals and test coordinators are strongly encouraged to participate in a session.

Date	Event	Location	Time
Tuesday, January 28	Face-to-Face	Taunton	8:30 a.m.-12:00 noon
Wednesday, January 29	Face-to-Face	Norwood	8:30 a.m.-12:00 noon
Thursday, January 30	Conference Call	NA	8:30 a.m.-12:00 noon
Wednesday, February 5	Face-to-Face	Springfield	8:30 a.m.-12:00 noon
Thursday, February 6	Face-to-Face	Worcester	8:30 a.m.-12:00 noon
Tuesday, February 11	Face-to-Face	Danvers	8:30 a.m.-12:00 noon
Wednesday, February 12	Conference Call	NA	1:00-4:30 p.m.

Sessions will begin promptly at the times listed. For face-to-face sessions, the registration table will be open one hour before the start time.

Training Presentation Overview

The presentations will include information about the following topics:

updates on the MCAS testing program
test security requirements
protocols to follow before, during, and after testing
participation guidelines for ELL students and students with disabilities
information on reporting

The presenters are seeking assistance from principals and test coordinators to share schools' helpful hints for managing test administration, including the following:

agendas and slides from test administrator training sessions from prior test administrations
agendas and slides from meetings with students from prior test administrations
any useful advice from your experience that other schools may benefit from

Principals and test coordinators are encouraged to submit their ideas to mcas@doe.mass.edu by Friday, January 10, so that materials can be prepared for the sessions.

Registration Instructions

As space is limited, participants must register between January 6 and 17, 2014, by following the instructions below. When completing the registration online, you will be prompted to print a confirmation of your registration. Please note that only confirmed registrants will be guaranteed access to conference calls and admission to face-to-face sessions.

Browse online to MCAS Service Center.
Select MCAS from the menu.
Select Registration for Training from the list of options.
Follow the online instructions.

For the face-to-face sessions, driving directions are available through a link when registering for a session. For the conference calls, instructions and a pass code will be sent by email before each call.

Guidelines for Selecting a Session

For face-to-face training sessions, principals as well as the school's testing coordinator or another staff member from the school or district, as designated by the superintendent or principal, may attend if space is available (no more than two individuals per school will be permitted). For the toll-free conference calls, principals may invite several additional staff members to participate together in a room with a speakerphone (one phone line per school, please).

Cancellation Policy

In case of severe weather conditions, face-to-face sessions will be canceled if the district in which the training is scheduled to take place cancels school for the day. If there is a delayed opening for schools in the district, the training will take place as scheduled. The conference call sessions will be canceled only if a state of emergency has been declared for Massachusetts, as participants dial in from their own locations. An email will be sent confirming the session cancellation. Please contact the MCAS Service Center at 800-737-5103 with any questions. Thank you.

Last Updated: January 8, 2014