How to Access?
Helpful Information
What types of questions are used on MCAS
Both resources are kid tests?
and parent friendly,
however, they require
computer access.
How to implement in
the schools? How do students with disabilities participate
 Schools may provide an
MCAS prep course which
utilizes the
Massachusetts
Department of
Educations website and
the MCAS Mentor
website.
 The Massachusetts
Department of Education
website and The MCAS
Mentor website can be
proficiency participate in MCAS tests?
used in school or while at
home.
M CA S fo r H i gh
School
 Multiple choice
 Short answer questions
 Open-response questions
 Writing prompts
in MCAS tests?
 Students with disabilities participate
in all MCAS tests scheduled for their
grades by taking the standard MCAS
tests with or without accommodations t/
or the MCAS Alternate Assessment
(MCAS-Alt). Service
 A student's IEP or 504 team
determines how a student with a Information
disability will participate in MCAS.
Massachusetts
How do students with limited English
Comprehension
Assessment
 Students who have been identified as
System
limited English proficient (LEP) by
their districts participate in all MCAS
tests scheduled for their grades.
By: Ashley Barry
 The only exception applies to first-
year LEP students to whom schools
have the option of administering the
MCAS English Language Arts test.
 LEP may use an approved bilingual
word-to-word dictionary
 Summary
The MCAS consists of three
subject based tests; English
Language Arts, Mathematics
and Science. All public school
students in Massachusetts are
required to participate in this
test. The MCAS test measures
performance based on the
Massachusetts Curriculum
Framework learning standards.
Grade Levels
Involved?
All Massachusetts public school
students in grades 3 through 8,
and at least once in high school
must take MCAS tests.
Students with disabilities and
students who are English
language learners must also
participate in MCAS, although
different rules may apply.
Why is the MCAS
Important?
The MCAS reports on the
performance of individual
students, schools and districts.
Students must pass the grade
10 tests in English Language
Arts and Mathematics as one
condition of eligibility for a
high school diploma. The MCAS
program is also used to hold
schools and districts
accountable, on a yearly basis
toward the objective of the No
Child Left Behind Law that all
students must be proficient in
Reading and Mathematics by
2014.
Useful Resources
*http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/
The Massachusetts Department
of Elementary and Secondary
Education contains an abundant
amount of information pertaining
to the MCAS including the
following:
 Frequently asked questions
 Testing schedules
 Test administration
resources
 Test questions
 Printable test questions
and answers
 Student work/Scoring
guides
 Test design development
 Parent/Guardian
Information
*www.mcasmentor.com
The MCAS mentor website can be
used by teachers, parents and
students. The website contains
the following information:
 Worksheets
 Vocabulary builders
 Math terms
 Literary terms
 Student assessments
checklists