Welcome to the TAYLOR ELEMENTARY SCHOOL Introduction to MCAS

Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System MCAS

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:  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 17 were reported MATH ◦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? The release questions from past tests are available through The Department of education website (for all grades dating back to 2008):

Parent Reports Th e 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 ◦Classroom performance ◦Common assessments Design instruction to match the needs of your child ◦Both whole class trends and individual Monitor growth

Where can I find additional information? The Department of Education all test items from past MCAS tests are available at html