Transcript No Slide Title

Welcome to the
TAYLOR ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL
Introduction to MCAS
Massachusetts
Comprehensive
Assessment
System
MCAS
Why does my child need to take
the MCAS?
• The law requires all public school students in
Massachusetts to take part in the MCAS*
• MCAS measures performance based on Massachusetts
Curriculum Frameworks Learning Standards
• MCAS provides a measure of accountability for students,
schools, and districts
• In grade 10, students must pass English Language Arts and
Math (Class of 2010 must also pass Science and
Technology/Engineering)
• To be compliant with No Child Left Behind all students
must be proficient in reading and mathematics by 2014
• *Not first year ELL students
Questions to be answered
today…
• What is MCAS?
• What tests will my child take?
• How many sessions of testing will my child
participate in?
• How many questions will my child answer?
• What type of questions will my child asked?
• What can parents do with the results, and what
does the school do with the results?
• How can I support my child for MCAS?
• Where can I find additional information?
What is MCAS?
• MCAS: an assessment designed to meet requirements of
Educational Reform Law of 1993
• All tests are un-timed
• Grade 3 MCAS: Reading and Math
• Grade 4 MCAS: Composition, Reading, and Math
• Composition-rough draft and final copy
• Reading-2 sessions over a two week period
– Practice is a story with 2 multiple choice question and 1 open
response question
– 2 sessions
– Read selection and answer multiple choice and open response
questions
– Multiple choice-1 point each (36 questions)
– Open Response-one 4 point question, four 2 point questions
What is MCAS?
Math-2 sessions over a two week period.
– Practice is one multiple choice, one short answer, and
one open response
– The test assesses:
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Number Sense and Operations
Patterns, Relationships ,and Algebra
Geometry
Measurement
Data Analysis, Statistics, and Probability
– The test has multiple choice, short answer, and open
response questions
• Multiple choice-26 questions worth 1 point each
• Short answer-6 questions worth1 point each
• Open Response- 4 questions worth 2 points each
How many questions will my
child answer?
• Reading
– selection followed by multiple choice questions and
open response questions
– Last year children responded to 41 questions only 18
were reported
• MATH
– Arrangement of word problems, tables, graphs, number
sentences with higher order math skills embedded
– There was only 1 computation problem
– Last year children responded to 36 questions only 18
were reported
What type of questions was my
child asked?
• The release questions from past tests are available
through
The Department of education website (for all grades
dating back to 2006):
http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/testitems.html
Parent Reports
• The Parent/Guardian Report will show how well your
third grade child performed in Reading and Math
compared to the performance of third grade students at the
Taylor School, the town of Foxborough, and the state
overall.
• The Parent/Guardian Report will show range of scores
(performance level) and the test item scores for your child.
• The Parent/Guardian Report also includes new
information such as ways to help your child, and places to
find additional information.
• Now scored with same group titles as all other grades
How can I support my child for
MCAS?
• Keep stress level down.
• Make sure your child has a good night’s rest, eats
properly, and gets to school on time every day.
• Emphasize MCAS has no impact on your child’s
report card, grades, or promotion.
• Encourage your child to do their best.
• Communicate with your child’s teacher regularly
to see how the family can support your child’s
learning at school.
How can I support my child for
MCAS?
• Ask your child about the homework that is due
tomorrow and next week, and make sure it gets
done. Send your child to school prepared to learn.
• Ask your child to explain to you what he or she is
studying. These conversations help you to follow
your child’s progress, and help him or her to
remember what has been learned.
Where can I find additional
information?
• The Department of Education
www.doe.mass.edu
all test items from past MCAS tests are
available at
http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/testitems.html