Chelmsford Will Continue with MCAS in 2016

The Chelmsford School Committee unanimously agreed with Superinetendent Jay Lang’s recommendation to continue administering the MCAS test in grades three through eight in 2016 instead of switching to the PARCC test.

The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) test is being updated to MCAS 2.0, which will incorporate elements of MCAS and the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC).

Lang told Chelmsford School Committee members that a primary reason he recommended sticking with MCAS in 2016 was to avoid making students and teachers make two testing changes in two years -- to PARCC in 2016 and then to MCAS 2.0 in 2017.

The Massachusetts Department of Education has decided that all schools will go to MCAS 2.0 in 2017.

In 2015, districts throughout the state could choose whether to administer MCAS or PARCC; Chelmsford elected to administer MCAS, which is why the district has the option to continue with MCAS again in 2016. Districts who chose PARCC in 2015 will continue with PARCC in 2016.