Student Assessment

Statewide assessments help parents, students, educators, and policymakers determine where districts, schools, and students are meeting expectations and where they need additional support. To increase our understanding of school performance, Student Assessment Services develops and administers the MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) and, for students with significant learning challenges, the MCAS Alternate Assessment. We also administer ACCESS for ELLs (Assessing Comprehension and Communication in English State-to-State for English Language Learners). In addition, we are exploring innovative assessments that provide students a richer, deeper way to express what they know. The Student Assessment team also coordinates Massachusetts' participation in national and international assessments.