Invitation to Apply for Grade 8 MCAS Civics Standard Setting Panel

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The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) is pleased to invite educators and other stakeholders to apply to participate in a standard setting meeting for the grade 8 MCAS Civics test. The purpose of standard setting is to identify and recommend achievement level cut scores for this test. A cut score defines the minimum performance required for a particular level of achievement.

The meeting will take place August 5–7, 2025. The deadline to apply to participate is Monday, March 24, 2025. Participating in standard setting is both an excellent professional development opportunity and an opportunity for educators to help define student performance on the MCAS tests. Please share this invitation widely within your networks.

The August 2025 Grade 8 MCAS Civics Standard Setting Meeting will include a panel of Massachusetts educators and stakeholders, working under the direction of trained facilitators. The panel will recommend achievement level cut scores for the MCAS Civics test. DESE will select approximately 24 participants for the panel. The panel will be divided into tables of 4 or 5 panelists, with one panelist from each table serving as a table leader.

Applicant Qualifications

DESE is recruiting educators and stakeholders with

• content expertise
• teaching experience in grade 8 civics
• familiarity with the grade 8 civics standards in the 2018 History and Social Science Massachusetts Curriculum Framework

DESE is especially interested in recruiting educators of color to serve on the panel. In addition, DESE is looking to select from a diverse pool of candidates that have experience working with racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse students. Educators from institutions of higher education, special education educators, and multilingual learner educators who are familiar with the grade 8 civics standards are encouraged to apply.

Roles and Responsibilities of Panelists

During the August 5–7 meeting, panelists will make recommendations regarding the level of content knowledge and skills that students must demonstrate at the Exceeding Expectations, Meeting Expectations, and Partially Meeting Expectations MCAS achievement levels. The panelists will review the 2025 test questions, student work, scoring guides, data, and other information to make their recommendations. Each table leader will also be expected to facilitate discussions among the panelists at their table.

Required Dates and Times

The table shows when all panelists must be available to participate in standard setting work.

Logistics, Stipend, Reimbursement of Expenses, and Professional Development Points

We anticipate that the meeting will be held in Wakefield, MA. Panelists will be offered a $200 per day stipend for their work on the panel. In addition, travel expenses, including mileage and tolls, will be reimbursed. Overnight accommodations will be provided for panelists who request them, beginning the evening before the meeting and ending on the last day of the meeting. Breakfast and lunch will be provided each day, and those staying overnight will be reimbursed for dinner, up to $30 per meal. Panelists will also receive professional development points (PDPs) for their service.

Application Procedure

The application deadline is Monday, March 24, 2025, at 5 pm. To complete the application, please follow these steps:

1. Ask your supervisor if they will support you serving on the civics standard setting panel. (You will be representing your school/district, higher education institution, or organization.)

2. Write a brief statement of interest and save it as a Microsoft Word document or PDF. Name the document using this convention: "LastName-FirstName-Statement." The statement of interest should be 1–2 paragraphs long and should include:
   • why you want to serve on a standard setting panel
   • how you will bring a diverse perspective to the panel
   • your experience working with racially, ethnically, and linguistically diverse communities, and any other relevant experiences.
   
   
3. Update and save your resume as either a Microsoft Word document or PDF. Name the document using this convention: "LastName-FirstName-Resume." Your resume should include:
   • your current position (including roles and responsibilities)
   • any degrees you have earned in relevant subject areas and/or other content expertise training and experiences
   • your experience working with a variety of student populations, including multilingual learners and students with disabilities
   
   

4. Complete the online application. Note: Your statement of interest and resume will be required for the online application and must be submitted as either Microsoft Word documents or PDFs.

DESE expects to notify all applicants during the first week of May about whether they have been selected for the standard setting panel. Successful applicants will be sent additional information at that time.

If you have any questions, please contact Ann Marie Gleeson , MCAS History and Social Science Test Development Coordinator.

Last Updated: January 29, 2025