Spring Test
Administration
Training Session
January 2016
Presenters
Dan Wiener
Administrator of Inclusive Assessment
Jodie Zalk
Test Administration Coordinator
Scott Kelley
Assessment Reporting Specialist
2
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Today’s Agenda
Review materials in folders
Updates for spring 2016
Test security and test administration
protocols
Participation requirements
Students with disabilities
ELL students
Reporting
Additional information and orientation
for new principals
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
3
Board Approved Transition
Board approved Commissioner Chester’s
recommendation to transition to next-generation
MCAS tests starting in spring 2017.
Spring 2016:
Districts that administered PARCC in spring 2015 will
do so again in 2016.
Districts that administered MCAS in spring 2015
choose MCAS or PARCC in 2016.
MCAS districts administer some PARCC items, which
will be reported but not included in students’ scores.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
4
Assessment Decision
Spring 2016 MCAS ELA and Math Grades 3–8
MCAS
PARCC
# of
districts
# of
students
in gr. 3–8
reported
in Oct.
SIMS
(approx.)
% of MA
gr. 3–8
students
# of
districts
# of
students
in gr. 3–8
reported
in Oct.
SIMS
(approx.)
% of MA
gr. 3–8
students
112
115,000
27%
235
269,000
63%
Data as of Dec. 24, 2015
See www.doe.mass.edu/news/news.aspx?id=21379
for details.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
5
2017 MCAS Plans (and beyond)
www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/nextgen/
 The test will include MCAS and PARCC items.
 MA will remain a member of the PARCC consortium.
 Educator advisory groups will give input on
 Testing policies
 High school graduation requirement
 History and Social Science test
 New contracts to be awarded to develop MCAS tests
 ELA, Math, and STE, including high school
 MCAS-Alt and ACCESS for ELLs: separate contracts
 Goal to implement computer-based tests by 2019
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
6
Test Administration
Protocols
Updates for 2016
 Testing schedule (PAM pages iii–v)
 New dates for grades 3–8 ELA
 New timed section (Session 2B) in grades 3–8 ELA
(PAM pages 20–21)
 No composition in grades 4 and 7
 Updated test blueprints for grades 3–8 ELA and
Mathematics test with new PARCC items
 ELA:
http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/tdd/ela.html?section
=testdesign
 Math:
www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/tdd/math.html?section=test
design
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
8
Become Familiar with 2016 Updates
www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/testadmin/practice
MCAS practice tests
PARCC practice tests and released items
PARCC item types on spring 2016 MCAS grades
3–8 ELA and Math tests
ELA narrative writing task
Math Type I items
Fill-in-the-blank, multiple-choice, multiple-select
Math Type II and III items
Constructed response
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
9
Grades 3–8 ELA Session 2A
Contains MCAS test items
Designed to be completed within 35 minutes
(recommended)
Usual ELA administration procedures
Can administer both 2A and 2B on the same
day (recommended)
10
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Grades 3–8 ELA Session 2B (new)
 PARCC narrative writing task
 2B must be completed within 60 minutes (timed)
 Exceptions for students with disabilities and ELLs
 Schedule an additional 15 minutes (75 minutes total) to
complete administration tasks (recommended)
 Students must complete 2A before 2B.
 Can wait until all students complete 2A before starting
everyone together on 2B (same day or different day).
OR
 Move students to 2B in dismissal waves (begin 2B
in different timed groups).
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
11
Materials for Grades 3–8 ELA (new)
Required (Session 2B only):
Provide at least one sheet of unused scratch
paper (blank, lined, or graph) for each student.
Students can request more if needed.
Securely destroy all used scratch paper after testing.
Unused scratch paper can be reused.
Prohibited (all sessions):
English-language dictionary
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
12
Updates for Grades 3–8 Math
 Updated recommended time to complete sessions:
 grade 3: 50 minutes per session
 grades 4–8: 55 minutes per session
 PARCC Mathematics items will be administered
during both Session 1 and Session 2.
 Students will use the same tools (e.g., calculators,
rulers) on all the MCAS Mathematics and PARCC
items.
 No need to distribute additional tools for PARCC items.
 No need to collect tools.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
13
Turn & Talk – Gr. 3–8 ELA Scheduling
What considerations are involved in
deciding whether to do Sessions 2A and
2B on the same day or different days?
What are some considerations for
students with disabilities and ELLs?
14
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Questions & Answers
Stay organized!
Keep good records throughout test
administration.
Plan your schedule early.
Especially for schools with grade 5 or 8 doing
PARCC ELA/math and MCAS STE during the same
time in May
16
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Develop School Security Plan
Review with the superintendent:
Staffing plan
Training plan
How to implement security requirements
Considerations:
Who is involved in planning?
How will you evaluate its success?
17
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Plan Your School’s Schedule
Testing dates
Note new dates for grades 3–8 ELA (PAM pages iii–v)
Administration deadlines (see schedule in PAM)
Tasks for Before Testing
Tasks for After Testing
Complete the PCPA (Materials
Received section)
Complete the PCPA
Report packing discrepancies
Schedule UPS pickup
Order additional materials
UPS pickup
Testing locations and staffing plan (including
administering accommodations)
Daily schedule, including dismissal waves
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
18
Complete Other Preparations
Prepare record of test administrators and
students.
Check the Department’s website.
SAS Updates – www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/updates.html
Read the PAM.
Student participation guidelines
Submit requests to test students in an alternate
setting if needed (PAM page 16) including
Students receiving home/hospital instruction
Students who are expelled but still enrolled
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
19
Review Data for March SIMS
Review the data your district will be reporting
in SIMS for students enrolled in your school:
Students’ names
Including newly enrolled students
Demographic information
ELL, IEP, and 504 status
New: First-year ELL status no longer collected on
answer booklets, since it is reported in SIMS.
Grade levels
Students are reported as absent if they are
enrolled but not tested.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
20
Receive Test Materials and
Prepare Them for Distribution
Complete forms.
Internal tracking forms
Sample in PAM on pages 125–126
Materials Summary
Principal’s Certification of Proper Test Administration
(PCPA) – www.mcasservicecenter.com
Order additional materials if necessary.
Deadlines listed on PAM pages iii–v
Distribute TAMs for review during training.
Can affix Student ID Labels to answer booklets.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
21
Order STE Materials (High Schools Only)
High schools: Order June STE materials
March 7–11, 2016
www.mcasservicecenter.com
22
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Be Sure to…
Distribute and collect test materials using
tracking forms.
Monitor and coordinate test administration.
Store materials in secure storage area between
sessions and after each day of testing.
Remind test administrators to read scripts
verbatim.
Keep a log of test administrators and students.
23
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Prepare Materials for School Files
Retain your school’s test administration files
for three years.
These materials may be requested in the
event of an investigation or during an
observation visit.
Materials to retain:
PAM pages 56–57, 75–76
24
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Prepare the Scorable Shipment
 Assign an answer booklet for
 students who participated in ANY part of testing
 students who were absent with medical documentation
 New – Do not assign a booklet for first-year ELLs
who do not participate in ELA (testing is optional).
 Transcribe responses if necessary for
 certain accommodations
 damaged/defective booklets
 Prepare envelopes
 Return, Special Handling, Void
 Packing diagrams and instructions in PAM
 ELA: beginning on page 48 of the PAM
 Math and STE: beginning on page 66 of the PAM
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
25
Before Packing
Confirm there are no secure materials left
in your school.
Students’ used answer booklets
Test booklets
Each day after testing, verify that all materials
have been returned to you.
Two independent counts of test materials recommended
Double-check central storage area.
In the bottom of a bin
In between file folders
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
26
Complete Forms after Testing
Materials Summary
PCPA
Signature must match the name of the principal in
School/District Profiles (http://profiles.doe.mass.edu).
27
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Options for Returning Materials
(March–April and May)
 Complete Early
Shipment
• Early pickup of
all scorable and
nonscorable
materials
 Partial Early
Shipment
• Early pickup of
used answer
booklets for
students who
were tested by
certain dates
AND
• Pickup of
remaining
scorable and
nonscorable
materials by
deadline
 Regular
Shipment
• Pickup of all
scorable and
nonscorable
materials as
soon as testing
has been
completed (by
deadline)
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
28
Schedule Your School’s Pickup
Two methods:
Schedule online at mcasservicecenter.com.
One day prior, and by 3:00 p.m.
OR
Give cartons to your regular UPS driver.
Call to inform the MCAS Service Center (800-737-5103).
Grade 10: Call the Service Center to cancel early
pickup if using regular return.
Do not take materials to UPS or remove from
building.
29
Do not leave materials unattended.
Use correct UPS labels.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Ship Materials Separately
Separate locations and shipping deadlines for
each of the following:
MCAS
MCAS-Alt
PARCC
ACCESS for ELLs
30
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Other Next Steps
Retain specific materials for school files.
ELA: PAM pages 56–57
Math and STE: PAM pages 75–76
Recycle certain materials.
ELA: PAM page 57
Math and STE: PAM page 76
Securely destroy (e.g., by shredding) scratch
paper used by students during grades 3–8
ELA Session 2B.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
31
Test Security
Most Common Security Issues
 Cell phones
 Improper coaching
 Improper use of the
read-aloud
accommodation (#26)
 Student collaboration
 Going back to earlier
sessions
 Twitter
 Improper calculator use
 Accessing
notes/textbooks
 Improper dictionary use
 Accessing Internet
while using typed
response
accommodation
33
(#23)
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Importance of Leadership
Superintendents must review their
principals’ test security plans.
Superintendent’s Assurance of Proper Test
Administration (optional form) — PAM page 124
Principals must maintain the security of the
testing environment and test materials.
PCPA certification — PAM pages 122–123
Train test administrators and others, and ensure
they comply with requirements.
Meet with students.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
34
A Secure Testing Environment
Plan for
appropriate testing spaces
students who may need more time
lunch, recess, restrooms
Cover/remove prohibited classroom displays
PAM page 27
No unauthorized visitors
35
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Security Requirements for
Test Materials
 Store all test materials in a central location each
day.
 Locked when tests are not being administered
 Restricted access
 Maintain chain of custody of materials during
test administration.
 Do not remove test materials from school.
 Do not leave test materials unattended.
 Materials must be returned to the central
secure storage area and signed in each day.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
36
Confidentiality of Booklets
Do NOT …
 review test booklets or answer booklets before,
during, or after testing, with these exceptions:
 Test administrators read student directions as instructed
in TAM during grades 3–8 ELA Session 2B.
 Certain accommodations
 provide students access to tests before testing
 duplicate test materials
 retain, recycle, remove, or destroy test materials
Remember that confidentiality requirements are in
place for MCAS items as well as for PARCC items.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
37
Train Test Administrators and Others
All individuals involved in test administration
must participate in training.
See topics in PAM — pages 31–33
Sample quiz on protocols can be used in training:
www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/testadmin/
Test administrators must sign forms.
Confirmation of training participation and receipt of
TAMs — sample form on PAM page 129
Nondisclosure agreement if providing certain
accommodations — form on PAM page 127
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
38
Test Administrator Responsibilities
1. Follow directions in TAMs and read scripts
verbatim.
2. Supervise students at all times to prevent cheating.
3. Prevent use of prohibited materials (e.g., cell
phones).
4. Focus full attention on the testing room.
5. Do not coach students or alter responses.
39
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Turn & Talk –Training Plan
How are your test administrators
trained?
Test administrators for accommodations?
How do you evaluate the success of your
training?
40
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Planning for Required and
Prohibited Materials
 Principals must develop procedures so that students
 receive required materials, and
 do not access prohibited materials.
 Principals must inform
 Test administrators
whether to read recommended TAM script or
school-developed script
how they will actively monitor the room
how to handle a situation if a student is found with
a prohibited item
 Students
 Parents/guardians
 See PAM beginning on page 27
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
41
Test Security Requirements for Students
Meet with students before testing to review
expectations.
During testing, students must NOT …
preview test materials
copy others’ work or communicate with other students
ask for or accept any coaching
let someone else answer for them
work in a different test session
use devices/materials (e.g., cell phones) that are
prohibited during testing
42
See PAM page 130 for a sample form to document
students’ understanding of requirements.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Results will be invalidated for students who use
cell phones or other electronic devices at any time
during a session, including after a student turns in
his or her test materials, during a break, or during
the transition to a test completion area.
43
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
How to Avoid This Situation
Inform students about the cell phone policy,
including consequences for using one during
testing.
Plan for end of session:
Inform students of appropriate activities at the end
of a session (e.g., do homework for another class).
See PAM page 30 for a list of materials permitted
after a student has turned in test materials.
Have test administrators collect test materials when
students are done.
Schedule sessions for appropriate lengths of time.
Use dismissal waves in scheduling.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
44
Please contact the Department
at 781-338-3625
IMMEDIATELY
to report testing irregularities.
See PAM pages 6–7 for more information
about reporting testing irregularities.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
45
Tips to Maintain Security
(Recommended)
Use seating charts.
Have an empty seat between students.
Whenever possible,
Assign test administrators to classes other than
their own.
OR
Have two test administrators in each room.
46
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Other Tips from Schools
www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/testadmin/
schoolsamples/default.html
Sample seating chart
Training materials
Worksheets for accounting for materials
Tracking accommodations
Checklists
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
47
Questions & Answers
Short Break
Participation
for Students with
Disabilities
Updates for 2016
 Requirements for the Participation of Students with
Disabilities in MCAS (2015–2016 Update)
 www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/participation/sped.pdf
 PAM Appendix B: Procedures for Testing Students with
Disabilities
 MCAS accommodations available for English Language
Arts Session 2B (PARCC section) for grades 3–8.
 Students with disabilities may receive extended time.
 Students can have test read aloud only if (nonstandard)
accommodation 26 (read aloud ELA) is listed in IEP/504.
50
 Students can have a scribe if (nonstandard)
accommodation 29 (scribe composition) is listed in
IEP/504.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Assigning MCAS Accommodations
IEP or 504 plan must specify which
accommodations will be used for testing.
 Include a description of the accommodation, not just
the accommodation number
(e.g., accommodation 25: other – slant board).
IEP must be signed by parent/guardian before
accommodations may be provided.
Notification of parents is required for 504 plans.
51
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Prohibitions for Test Accommodations
Test administrators may not…
Provide accommodations not listed in
 a student’s IEP or 504 plan
 Appendix B of the PAM, without Department approval
Provide a different grade-level test
Alter, photocopy, or scan a test booklet
Coach or provide clues/assistance
 E.g., define words, explain questions, suggest the
student write more
52
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Examples of Testing Irregularities
due to Prohibited Materials
 English-language dictionary or thesaurus
 Dictionaries are allowed only on the Grade 10 ELA
Composition test.
 Unapproved individualized math reference sheet
or graphic organizer
 Calculator on the non-calculator session of
Mathematics test for a student who does not
have this listed in an IEP/504 plan
53
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Things to Do Now to Prepare for MCAS
Accommodations
 Review IEPs, 504 plans, and PAM Appendix B.
 Prepare a list or spreadsheet for test scheduling:
Student
Name
John Ward

Grade
Subject TA
Name
Room
#
Accommodation(s)
5
Math
208
19 – scribe
20 – graphic organizer
Mr. Lee
 Order special test editions, as needed.
 E.g., large-print, Braille
 Submit graphic organizers and individualized reference sheets
to the Department for approval.
 Provide training on accommodations to
 Test administrators
 Substitutes
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
54
Nonstandard Accommodations
(NSAs)
 NSAs may be provided only to a student who
 is virtually unable to decode, calculate, write, or spell;
AND
 receives ongoing intervention in this area.
 NSAs may not be provided if student is simply
performing “below grade level.”
 Score may be invalidated if ineligible student was
provided an NSA.
 Use of NSAs will be reported with a notation on
 Parent/Guardian Reports
 School and district rosters
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
55
MCAS Accommodation 20: Graphic Organizers,
Checklists, and Individualized Reference Sheets
 ELA graphic organizers and Mathematics reference sheets
must be approved by the Department prior to testing.
 ELA graphic organizers may include text, but no hints,
sentence starters, examples.
 Individualized Math reference sheets
 May include formulas, memory prompts (e.g., mnemonics)
 May not include graphics, definitions, sample problems, steps for
solving specific problems
 See PAM Appendices B and E.
 www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/participation/?section=all
 Sample ELA and STE reference sheets
 Approval guide for Mathematics reference sheets
 Pre-approved ELA graphic organizers
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
56
MCAS Accommodation 20:
Deadlines for Submission
 Use Approval Cover Sheet for approval (all subjects)
 Page 139 of the PAM
 Only submit/resubmit materials approved in 2014 or
earlier.
Deadline to Test
Submit
Feb. 5
ELA tests (all grades)
April 1
Mathematics tests (all grades) and
STE tests (grades 5 and 8)
April 29
High school STE tests
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
57
If a Student Refuses an Accommodation
 Document the refusal in the student’s file.
 Sample refusal form — page 141 of the PAM
 Continue to make accommodation available for
remainder of test administration.
 Do not fill in circles on the student’s answer booklet
(back cover) for accommodations that were not used.
 Notify parent/guardian.
 Amend IEP/504 plan for future testing.
 If appropriate, list accommodation in the IEP/504 plan
“as requested by student,” or remove it.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
58
MCAS-Alt General Information
 IEP team or 504 plan designates students for MCAS-Alt
each year and in each subject.
 Student will take MCAS-Alt, regardless of whether the
school is giving MCAS or PARCC.
 Principals should encourage teachers to attend
Department-sponsored training.


Training and portfolio review sessions offered in Oct.,
Jan., and March
Participation increases likelihood of submitting a complete
portfolio
 MCAS-Alt scores are included with other results for
school and district accountability.
 Results posted electronically (DropBox) in mid-June
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
59
How Principals Can Support Their
Teachers Who Conduct the MCAS-Alt
Determine which teachers need support.
 Who can assist in the school/district?
Monitor teachers’ progress.
Encourage teachers to review each other’s
portfolios.
Bi-monthly MCAS-Alt Newsletter, including
“Administrator’s Corner”
Where possible, provide time and flexibility to
work on portfolios.
 E.g., scheduling, coverage, substitutes
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
60
Participation for
ELL Students
MCAS Participation by ELL Students
 ELLs are required to participate in MCAS (or PARCC), or
MCAS-Alt in all subjects required for their grade.
 Exception: First-year ELLs may participate in ELA testing,
but are not required.
 Foreign exchange students (coded #11 in SIMS) are also
required to participate in all tests scheduled for their grade.
 Requirements for the Participation of English Language
Learners in ACCESS for ELLs 2.0, MCAS, and PARCC available
at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/participation/ell.pdf
 Grade 10 and retest: English/Spanish MCAS Math test is
available.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
62
MCAS Accommodations for
ELL Students
 ELLs and former ELLs may use an approved bilingual
word-to-word dictionary or glossary on any MCAS test.
 Updated list available at
www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/testadmin/lep-bilingualdictionary.pdf
 Includes list of specialized glossaries for Math and STE
 ELLs may receive extended time on ELA Session 2B for
grades 3–8.
 ELLs with disabilities must also receive test
accommodations, per their IEP/504 plan.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
63
MCAS Test Administration for ELLs
Assigning Testing Spaces for ELLs
 Principals may assign students to spaces other than
regular classrooms, as long as other conditions and
staffing requirements are met.
 Do not mark this as an accommodation on a student’s
answer booklet unless the student also has this in his or her
IEP or 504 plan.
“Stop Testing” Policy
 If an ELL student does not seem to be responding to test
questions, the test administrator may ask if the student is
finished.
64
 If so, collect test materials. The student may do
homework, read a book, or sit quietly.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
ACCESS for ELLs
Test Administration Deadlines
Until
February 10
Administer ACCESS for ELLs test
February 11
Deadline to pack test materials
and schedule UPS pickup
February 12
Deadline for UPS pickup
March 30 –
April 8
Online Data Validation
(Verify student demographics)
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
65
Questions & Answers
High School Participation
Review CD Data (High Schools Only)
Check lists of students who are in grade 12
to confirm
Who has not been tested?
Who still needs to earn a CD?
Check CD report PE618
Available in Edwin Analytics on January 15
Includes November retest results
Check list of students in grade 11 who were in
grade 9 the previous school year
To be posted in School and District DropBoxes
in late January
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
68
High School EPP
Students can participate in the March ELA
retest for EPP purposes.
Students can participate in EPP/MCAS test for
Math.
April 25–May 6, 2016
www.doe.mass.edu/ccr/epp/test.html
69
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
New Grade 11 Students
Claim them by
Reporting them in SIMS (or SIF) or
Using the claiming process in Edwin Analytics
If they have not taken the high school MCAS
tests, determine whether they wish to qualify
for the Adams Scholarship.
If so, schedule them for grade 10 ELA and
Mathematics testing.
If not, schedule them for retests.
Administer STE tests in February (Biology) or in
June (all four tests).
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
70
High School Participation
Guidelines posted at
www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/participation/high
school.html
Call 781-338-3625 with questions.
71
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Reporting
Reporting Topics
Schedule for reporting MCAS results
Discrepancy reporting periods
High school reporting notes
Student Profile Report in Edwin
Preliminary plans for reporting PARCC portions
of MCAS
Accountability reporting
73
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Spring 2016 MCAS Reporting Schedule
March–May (all dates tentative)
March 31
Access February Biology data files and rosters
at DropBox Central
April 15
Access March Retest data files and rosters at
DropBox Central
March 30– ACCESS for ELLs data validation (schools)
April 8
Districts receive February Biology and March
May 10
Retest Parent/Guardian Reports
Late May Schools and districts receive printed ACCESS
for ELLs reports and data posted at DropBox
Central
Results will be available in EDW/Edwin Analytics 3 days after the
DropBox release.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
74
Spring 2016 MCAS Reporting Schedule
Early Summer
Mid-June: MCAS-Alt student results and
portfolio feedback forms at DropBox Central
Late June: Districts access grade 10 MCAS
ELA Compositions at
www.mcasservicecenter.com
Early July: ELA (preliminary results), Math
(multiple-choice only), Grades 5 and 8 STE
(multiple-choice only)
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
75
Spring 2016 MCAS Reporting Schedule
July–August (all dates tentative)
July 1–July 31
MCAS discrepancy reporting by
phone (800-737-5103)
Early August
TBD
Districts access full preliminary
Mathematics and STE MCAS results
• Combined with June ELA
August TBD
MCAS discrepancy reporting online
(mcasservicecenter.com)
76
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Spring 2016 MCAS Official Results
Reporting Schedule — Fall (TBD)
 Districts access official MCAS student, school,
and district results on MassEdu Gateway.
 One day later:
Districts receive shipment of MCAS and MCASAlt Parent/Guardian Reports.
Public release of official school and district
results by the Department.
77
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Reporting Notes for High Schools
STE scores used for accountability in grade 10
Grade 9 students’ scores are held until grade 10.
All high school accountability determinations are
based on grade 10 data.
Any student enrolled as a 10th grader from
March through the end of the school year who
has never taken an STE test will count
against participation rates.
Including first-year ELL students and students taking
the MCAS-Alt
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
78
Reporting Notes for High Schools
Continued
Grade 11 or 12 students who were reported in
SIMS in grade 9 in 2015 (i.e., skipped grade
10) are required to participate in spring
grade 10 MCAS tests, even if they earned the
CD by taking a retest.
The Department will place a “skip g_10” file in
school and district DropBoxes by January 29.
Students who do not participate will count against
school/district participation results.
79
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Student Profile Report in Edwin
Provides all school enrollment, assessment,
and Student Course Schedule (SCS) history for
individual students
To view data immediately for a student who
transfers into your district, you must claim the
student in Edwin Analytics.
Once your district claims educational
responsibility for the student, authorized users
may view data in Edwin from prior to a
student’s arrival in your district.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
80
Reporting PARCC Portions of
MCAS (Anticipated)
PARCC section on MCAS to be scored and
reported to parents/guardians and educators
PARCC “reporting category” score to be
included on MCAS Parent/Guardian Reports,
Edwin Analytics reports, and School/District
Profiles
Estimate of whether students are scoring at
the PARCC “Meets Expectations” level to be
included on MCAS reports
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
81
Accountability Reporting in 2016
Schools administering MCAS will be classified
into a level as usual, and will not be “held
harmless.”
Schools administering PARCC will have their
2016 accountability and assistance level “held
harmless” (i.e., the level will stay the same or
improve from 2015, but cannot decline).
Accountability levels will be calculated after
PARCC results become available.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
82
Equipercentile Linking:
MCAS/PARCC Concordance Table
83
PARCC and MCAS
scores are linked
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
by the percentile they share.
Student Growth Percentiles
2015 MCAS
100
2016 MCAS
99
90
80
70
Academic
Peers
60
50
50
40
30
1
20
10
0
MCAS Grade 3
Warning
MCAS Grade 4
Needs Improvement
Proficient
Advanced
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
84
Questions & Answers
Short Break
If you are leaving now, please
leave your completed
Evaluation Form at the
registration desk.
Thank you for coming.
Additional Information
and Orientation for
New Principals
Additional
Accommodations
Information
Selecting Appropriate Accommodations
for Instruction
Adults who work with the student:
Gather information on student’s learning style
and preferences.
Look at student’s classroom performance, not
just the type of disability.
Try out prospective accommodations during
instruction.
Evaluate instructional accommodations and
modify as needed.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
89
Designating Accommodations
for Assessment
 Team bases the selection of test accommodations on
those used successfully during instruction.
 For each subject, determine whether the
accommodation is appropriate and allowed for
MCAS testing.
 Develop/amend IEP or 504 plan, listing instructional
and assessment accommodations separately.
 Accommodations must be provided/offered if listed
in IEP (signed by parent/guardian) or in 504 plan.
 Evaluate the effectiveness of test accommodations.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
90
Additional Details on
Test Administration
Additional Information
Forms
Materials Summary
PCPA
Internal tracking form
Completing student information on
answer booklet covers
Return shipping instructions
Brockton High School video
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
92
Materials Summary
93
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
PCPA “Materials Received” Section
94
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
PCPA “After Testing” Sections
95
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
The principal must sign the PCPA.
96
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Internal Tracking Forms
Used to determine chain of custody of materials
See samples in PAM (pages 125 and 126)
97
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
School-created Internal Tracking
Forms
Include the following components:
The specific count of materials at the time of
distribution
The specific count of materials at the time of
return
Signature areas for the test administrator and
the principal or test coordinator to sign the form
98
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Student ID Labels and SIMS
Student ID Labels based on October SIMS
Use a label even if there is some incorrect
information on it as long as the SASID on
the label is correct.
Correct the student’s name or date of birth in
the next SIMS submission (March or June) via
your district SIMS contact (see PAM page ii for
instructions on how to find yours).
99
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Completing Student Information
If a student has a label, fill in the following
information on the front cover:
School name
School district
Student’s name (Write in the name, but no need to fill
in the circles below.)
If no label, fill in all the information on the front
cover and fill in corresponding circles.
See sample front covers of a student answer
100
booklet in the PAM on pages 132 and 133.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
What to
fill in on
the answer
booklet
front cover
if a
student
does NOT
have a
label
101
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
Returning Answer Booklets –
Three Envelopes
Return Envelope
 Used/assigned standard answer booklets (ABs)
Special Handling Envelope
 Typed Responses inserted in ABs
 Large-print ABs with transcribed standard AB
Void Envelope
 ABs that were assigned to students but that
should not be scored
 Fill in “VOID” circle on back cover of the AB.
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
102
Pack Return Shipments
 Use the diagrams in the PAM to pack scorable and
nonscorable shipments.
 ELA instructions — pages 52–55
 Mathematics and STE instructions — pages 71–74
103
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
One School’s
Perspective on Test
Administration
Brockton High School
www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=zrpUTFGyUDw
Organizing Test Administration
(Courtesy of Brockton High School)
1. Preparation in advance of materials
arriving at the school
2. Preparation of test administrators
3. Preparation of students
4. Maintaining security within each testing
room
5. Collection and accountability of
materials
Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education
105
Questions & Answers
Please leave your completed
Evaluation Forms at the
registration desk.
Thank you for coming.