Framingham Says It Is Preparing For Next-Generation MCAS

The following is a press release from the Framingham Public Schools

“Framingham Public Schools is fortunate to have had a one-year headstart on the next-generation of testing in Massachusetts,” said Director of Curriculum and Instruction Dr. Grace Wai.

By 2019, Massachusetts’ students will need to be accustomed to taking the next generation Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) tests online.

The Next-Generation MCAS, approved by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on Nov. 17, will have a combination of test items based on the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) and MCAS.

The MCAS will begin embedding PARCC-type questions as early as spring 2016.

The 2014–2015 school year marked a significant shift in many states’ approach to public school student assessments. The Framingham Public Schools district is among the 194 districts in Massachusetts that administered PARCC to measure student progress against more rigorous Massachusetts standards adopted in 2011.

As with any change, there will be some transition required.

Often, first-year results reflect an implementation dip as students and educators adjust to new standards and exam expectations, format and procedures.

When a district switches to a new type of test, it takes time to bridge knowledge of the old assessment to the new one. It is important to note that this is temporary and manageable.

To aid in the transition from one assessment to another, the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) uses the familiar measures of Composite Performance Index (CPI) and Student Growth Percentile (SGP) developed in MCAS.

The CPI is used to measure performance over time, and SGP measures student growth relative to their academic peers.

Results from the 2015 MCAS and PARCC state assessments show steady progress towards proficiency and growth remains strong.

DESE’s announcement also states that districts that administer PARCC in spring 2016 will be held harmless for any negative changes in their school and district accountability levels.

The state board also voted to hold all districts harmless on the basis of test scores in 2017 when 100% of Massachusetts schools will be administering “Next-Generation” MCAS.

“Let us not get distracted by new assessments. As proud as we are of the evidence of our students’ continued growth, we believe that these assessments serve as one measure of high-quality teaching and learning. Framingham got a jump start on next generation testing as part of its larger quest of excellence and equity for all students. We know that we still have a long way to go to reach our larger vision, and we know that will take a community effort,” said Framingham Superintendent Dr. Stacy Scott.

The mission of the Framingham Public Schools, a system that understands and values our diversity, is to educate each student to learn and live productively as a critically thinking, responsible citizen in a multicultural, democratic society by providing academically challenging instructional programs taught by a highly qualified and diverse staff and supported by comprehensive services in partnership with our entire community.