Transcript gr-3-parent-presentation

Welcome to the
TAYLOR ELEMENTARY
SCHOOL
Introduction to MCAS
Massachusetts
Comprehensive
Assessment
System
MCAS
What is MCAS?
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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?
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Reading
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MATH
◦ selection followed by multiple choice questions and
open response questions
◦ Last year children responded to 41 questions only
17 were reported
◦ Arrangement of word problems, tables, graphs,
number sentences with higher order math skills
embedded
◦ There was only 1 computation problem (of the 18
release questions)
◦ Last year children responded to 36 questions only
18 were reported
What type of questions was my
child asked?
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The release questions from past tests are
available through
The Department of education website (for all
grades dating back to 2008):
http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/testitems.html
Parent Reports
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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
What do the teachers do with this
information?
Review all testing data
 Align to current level of performance
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◦ Classroom performance
◦ Common assessments
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Design instruction to match the needs of
your child
◦ Both whole class trends and individual
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Monitor growth
Where can I find additional
information?
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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