Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

Student Assessment Update: April 2, 2019, Special Administration Edition

Contact Information

Latest Updates from Student Assessment Services

For All Schools

Support during Test Administration
Schools are reminded to contact the MCAS Service Center at 800-737-5103 for the following types of questions.

• general test administration support
• PearsonAccess Next and TestNav
• logistical support, including filling out the Materials Summary and the PCPA
• locating resources
• shipments of materials

In addition, schools should contact the MCAS Service Center if there are technology issues that cannot be resolved in 15 minutes or less.

For High Schools

1. Grade 10 ELA Reminders
   1. Grade 10 ELA Make-Up Testing
      High schools should be aware that ELA make-up testing may be conducted throughout this week. The last date to complete regular make-up testing is April 4, and schools may also administer make-up sessions on April 5 for students with extraordinary circumstances (i.e., students not able to participate in regularly scheduled or make-up sessions).
      
      
   2. Steps to Take after Testing
      Upon completion of testing, high schools will need to complete the steps listed in the checklist on page 50 of the Principal's Administration Manual (PAM). The PAM describes the steps in more detail beginning on page 63. The "Office Hours #2" training session also provides an overview of tasks to complete after testing.
      
      High schools are reminded that the Principal's Certification of Proper Test Administration (PCPA) form is streamlined for 2019. High school principals will certify both the ELA and Mathematics test administrations by completing a single grade 10 PCPA after the conclusion of Mathematics testing. (Note that there are additional PCPA forms for high schools for the operational high school STE tests and the Biology and Introductory Physics field tests.)
      
      
2. February Biology Results Available This Week
   On April 5, .CSV data files containing results from the February 2019 Biology test will be posted to DropBoxes. On April 12, interactive reports will be available in Edwin Analytics. Parent/Guardian Reports will be sent later this spring.
   
   

Other Important Dates

Additional Resources

For All Schools

Early reporting schedule (Note: The schedule has been updated since the previous update.)

Frequently Asked Questions: Spring 2019 MCAS

Updated instructions for students using laptops

Guidance for technology problems that may occur during testing

 

Guidance on tasks in PearsonAccess Next

Guidance on enrollment transfer requests in PearsonAccess Next

Guidance on creating PAN Sessions

Resolving Incorrect Accommodations During Testing module

Guidance on Resume and Resume Upload

Guidance on removing students from a PAN Session

Guidance on marking tests "complete" in PAN

For High Schools

Next-Generation Grade 10 MCAS Tests: Information for Students and Families

Instructions for completing student information for grade 10 PBT

Instructions for high schools to complete the SR/PNP for the operational high school STE tests (must be completed by April 12)

Subscriber Information

Principals, MCAS test coordinators, special education directors, and EL program directors automatically receive this Student Assessment Update based on contact information submitted to the Department. To change your email address or to add another staff member who serves in one of these roles, please follow the instructions below:

• Public school districts, public schools, charter public schools, educational collaboratives, and approved private special education schools: submit the new email address to your District-Level Directory Administrator.
• Test sites, adult education programs, out-of-state schools, SEIS-DYS programs: go online to the EOE Information Technology web page (select "District/School Information Update" as the subject) to submit your update (be sure to include your District and School Code).
  
  

For others who wish to subscribe, email imailsrv@list1.doe.mass.edu with the following information in the body of the email: "subscribe SASUpdate Your_Name" (Example: subscribe SASUpdate John_Smith). To unsubscribe, send an email to the same address with the following information in the body: "unsubscribe SASUpdate."

In addition, ESE sends occasional communications regarding state policies that affect educators, parents, and other community stakeholders, as well as opportunities for community members to participate in state initiatives. Please visit our newsletter sign-up page if you are interested in receiving other news and information from the Department.

We welcome your questions and feedback at mcas@doe.mass.edu. Thank you.