MCAS Test Security and Administration Protocols For Returning

MCAS Test Security and Administration Protocols: For Returning Staff The Office of Student Assessment Services January 29, 2019

Presenters • Robert Pelychaty, Accommodations and Appeals Coordinator • David Ragsdale, Test Security Specialist • Jodie Zalk, Test Administration Coordinator • Swampscott MCAS Team: o Lytania Mackey Knowles § Director of Technology & Digital Learning o Catie Porter Roberts § Digital Learning Specialist & Professional Development Coordinator Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 2

Logistics for This Session • Questions may be asked at any time using the Questions feature on the Go. To. Webinar screen. o Questions about a specific student should be sent by email to mcas@doe. mass. edu. o We will attempt to answer all questions asked during the session; after the session, all questions will be answered and emailed out to participants. • This session is being recorded and will be available online in about one week at: o MCAS Resource Center ― mcas. pearsonsupport. com/training § In the section entitled “Training Sessions Previously Offered This School Year” Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 3

01 Test Security Requirements 02 Test Administration Protocols 03 Accessibility and Accommodations CONTENTS 04 A District’s Perspective 05 Resources, Support, and Next Steps 06 Protocols for PBT and High Schools

01 Test Security Requirements

Test Security Problems Worse than Yours www. cbsnews. com/news/indian-parents-scale-school-wall-to-help-students-cheat-on-exams/ Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 6

Test Security ‘reductio ad absurdum’ www. telegraph. co. uk/newsvideo/weirdnewsvideo/10246867/University-students-made-towear-anti-cheating-helmets. html Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 7

Most Common Security Issues from 2018 • Cell phone use • Improper read-aloud or text-to-speech • Extra reference sheets/notes • Going forward or back to another session (PBT) • Student communication (talking or passing notes) • Copying another student’s work/answers • Accessing the Internet • Calculators on noncalculator tests/sessions Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 8

A Framework for the Test Security Plan • Prevent o The foundation of a test security plan is always prevention. • Detect o How do you detect incidents? • Respond o What do you do when an incident occurs? Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 9

The Importance of Leadership • People take their cues from above – leaders set the tone. • Superintendents o must review their principals’ test security plans and be comfortable with the procedures in their buildings (PAM, page 3) o are encouraged visit their schools and observe testing • Principals o must ensure that test administrators are properly trained o must ensure that MCAS protocols are being followed o must ensure that accommodations are correctly given o must sign the PCPA and attest to a proper test administration Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 10

Secure Content and Materials for CBT • Content o MCAS questions not publicly released by the Department o Student responses to test questions o Passages, questions, writing prompts, and any other on-screen content • Materials o Student testing tickets and proctor testing tickets o Used scratch paper after testing (until it is securely destroyed) Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 11

Confidentiality of Secure Test Content • Principals, test administrators, and others are prohibited from: o Viewing on-screen test content § exceptions for certain accommodations (nondisclosure form required) § exception for reading a word aloud for Mathematics and STE § exception for assisting a student with the computer o Duplicating or reproducing test content § technology staff cannot take photographs of computer screens. o Discussing test content with anyone before, during, or after testing Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 12

Handling and Storage of Secure Materials • Store all secure materials in a secure central location. o locked when tests are not being administered o restricted access • Maintain chain of custody of materials during test administration. o Use internal tracking forms (to be posted on DESE site soon). o Independent counts of secure materials o Do not leave materials unattended. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 13

A Secure Testing Environment – Out of the Room • Students must be supervised when they are out of the testing room. • Plan for o hallway monitoring o test completion rooms, lunch, students using the restroom or going to the nurse • Optional/recommended scripts in TAMs to read prior to o the transition to a test completion room o a supervised lunch break o students visiting the restroom Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 14

A Secure Testing Environment – In the Room • Choose appropriate testing spaces. • Cover or remove prohibited classroom displays. o Remember this if you add new rooms later. • No unauthorized visitors in testing rooms o parents, media, non-testing students o teachers • Testing rooms may be entered by o o Technology staff for troubleshooting School administrators District personnel Department observers • When possible, use two test administrators in the room. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 15

Secure Room Set-up for Computer-Based Testing • Students must not be able to view any screen but their own. o Set up rooms in advance to test out different seating arrangements. o Sit in the seats and look around. What can you see? o Have an administrator walk around at the start of testing and check all the rooms. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 16

Examples of Seating Arrangements Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 17

Using Partitions between Computers Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 18

Prohibited Materials • Make sure students understand that they are not allowed to have o cell phones and other electronic devices (e. g. , music players, e-readers, smart watches) o calculators on noncalculator tests and sessions o notes or reference material beyond what they’re given, such as additional reference sheets, graphic organizers, multiplication grids (exceptions for certain accommodations) o dictionaries • A poster showing examples of prohibited materials to be posted on DESE site soon Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 19

An Example of Collecting Cell Phones Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 20

Training Test Administrators and Other Personnel • All individuals involved in MCAS administration must participate in a school-provided training session. o MCAS test security requirements (Part I of the PAM) o MCAS test administration protocols (Part III of the PAM) o School-specific procedures and logistics • Training section of the PAM (Part III, section F) now focuses on areas where schools have discretion in implementing security protocols • Sample slides will be posted on DESE website soon. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 21

Training Test Administrators and Other Personnel – Documentation • Documentation o Test administrators must sign forms to acknowledge the following: § participation in training § receipt of TAMs Ø combined sample form (to be posted on DESE site soon) o Test administrators who will administer certain accommodations to students with disabilities or EL students (listed in Appendix C of the PAM) must sign an MCAS Nondisclosure Acknowledgment form. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 22

Test Administrator Responsibilities • Maintain the chain of custody of secure materials • Make sure students have the correct materials for each session • Focus their full attention on the testing room • Follow instructions in the TAMs and read scripts verbatim • Circulate throughout the room to prevent cheating and the use of prohibited materials – active proctoring • Refrain from coaching students or influencing their responses in any way Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 23

What is Coaching? • Providing hints or clues o “What did we study in class last week? ” “What’s the acronym for order of operations? ” “What’s the main character’s perspective? ” “Don’t forget to use specific examples in your essay. ” • Indicating in any way that a student has answered a question incorrectly o “Check your work” • Defining or spelling words • Explaining, simplifying, or paraphrasing any part of the test • Suggesting that a student write more • Influencing a student’s response through gestures, facial expressions, nods, or changes in voice inflection Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 24

What is Permitted? • Reading a word or short phrase aloud on the Mathematics and STE tests (UF 10) • Assisting students with technology-related problems o helping a student sign in to Test. Nav o pointing to a tool button that a student cannot find o helping a student understand how to enter a result in the equation editor o helping a student submit his or her test • Re-reading part of the TAM script to students • Telling students to do their best if they have questions about test content Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 25

Test Security Requirements for Students • Students’ results may be invalidated if they o use notes, books, or other reference materials o access a cell phone or other electronic device (other than their testing device) o look at another student’s screen or allow another student to see their screen o pass notes or talk to other students o access the Internet or use any application on their testing device other than Test. Nav • See sample form for students and a sample letter to send to parents (recommended for grades 6– 8 and 10) o (to be posted on DESE site soon) Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 26

Steps to Take After a Security Incident or Irregularity • Call the Department at 781 -338 -3625. • Gather information about the incident if necessary. o Talk to the test administrator(s) involved. o Talk to any students involved. o Preserve documents (e. g. , notes confiscated). o If reporting a read-aloud violation, determine how much of the test was read. o If reporting a calculator violation, determine which items were solved with the calculator. • Submit a report if instructed to. • Take any local action that is appropriate. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 27

02 Test Administration Protocols

Transition to Next-Generation Tests for Grades 3– 8 and 10 ELA and Math 2017 CBT required* for gr. 4 and 8 CBT optional for gr. 3, 5, 6, and 7 2018 CBT required* for gr. 4, 5, 7, and 8 CBT optional for gr. 3 and 6 2019 CBT required* for 3– 8 and 10 * Paper test accommodation for students with disabilities or new ELs Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 29

Streamlined Manuals for 2019 • Manuals are expected to be available by the end of this week/beginning of next week. • Based on feedback on the 2018 school survey, we reorganized manuals for 2019. • TAMs combine scripts as much as possible for Math and STE. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 30

2019 Updates: Test Administration Manuals • PAM: Contains instructions for tests and HS field tests • CBT TAM: o All grades 3– 8 tests o Grade 10 ELA and Mathematics o High school Biology and Introductory Physics field tests • PBT TAM: o All grades 3– 8 tests o Grade 10 ELA and Mathematics o Operational high school STE tests Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 31

2019 Updates: The Principal’s Administration Manual • New infographics and new icons – e. g. , Part IV, Section A: new checklist and timelines • Appendix B: PBT instructions • Appendix C: accessibility and accommodations • Sample administration materials/forms moved online Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 32

2019 Updates: Scheduling Guidance for Grades 3– 8 MCAS Subject Area Test Number of Sessions Recommended Testing Times Grades 3– 8 ELA 2 sessions Grades 3– 8 Mathematics 2 sessions (updated for 2019) 2 to 2 ½ hours per session 1 ½ hours per session Grades 5 and 8 STE 2 sessions (updated for 2019) 1 ¼ hours per session • For make-up testing, schools may group students taking different tests together if the TAM script and the materials are the same. • Do not group together students doing CBT and PBT. www. doe. mass. edu/mcas/cal. html Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 33

2019 Updates: Grade 10 Test Schedule • Grade 10 ELA and Mathematics o Administer tests to the maximum number of students who can be tested concurrently on the first set of days. o Schools with technology constraints may use the second set of dates to test the remainder of their students. o Schools with special circumstances that cannot test all their students on these dates must email mcas@doe. mass. edu to discuss options. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 34

Additional Scheduling Guidance • Short break mid-session for all tests with the exception of the legacy operational high school STE tests • Test. Nav will be available between 7: 00 a. m. and 4: 00 p. m. , Monday–Friday, except the week of April 15. o Principals will need to request special access to test outside these hours (e. g. , evening high schools). See PAM Part III, section C. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 35

2019 Updates: High School Biology and Intro Physics Field Tests Requirements Participation Notes • Administration window • Students not expected to participate: o May 28–June 14, except June 3– 5 (Recommended date: June 6) • Participation guidelines o All grade 9 students taking the operational high school Biology or Introductory Physics test are expected to take the field test in the same subject (exceptions below). o Grade 10 participation is optional/at principals’ discretion. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education o first-year EL students o students who take the MCAS-Alt o repeating grade 9 students • Unavailable accommodations o A 1 and EL 1 – Paper-based edition o A 2 – Large-print edition (Onscreen text can be magnified. ) o A 3. 1 and A 3. 2 – Screen reader and Braille edition o Unique Accommodation – Use of a compatible assistive technology device 36

2019 Updates: Principal’s Certification of Proper Test Administration • The PCPA is streamlined to reflect the shift to computer-based testing. • The “before testing” section is removed, and schools will complete the PCPA only after testing as shown in the table: Grades/Tests PCPA Forms to Complete Grades 3– 8 One combined PCPA at the end of spring testing that covers all grades and subjects One combined PCPA for ELA and Mathematics at the end of Mathematics testing One PCPA for the operational high school STE tests One PCPA for the Biology and Introductory Physics field tests High schools Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Total Number of PCPAs 1 3 37

2019 Updates: Administration Procedures • Scratch paper for all tests • New online form for requesting an alternate setting o PAM Part II, section E • Student questionnaire now administered at grade 4 (as well as grades 5, 8, and 10 as before) • Data will be based on data from the School Interoperability Framework (SIF) for the SR/PNP for districts that use SIF. For non-SIF districts, data will be based on the October SIMS submission. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 38

Preparing Students for CBT • Technology skills and tools • DLCS Curriculum Framework • Student Tutorial o Demonstration of the navigation, tools, and features for CBT o Students complete it independently (no audio) • Practice tests o Simulation of the tools and features for CBT o Include accessibility features and accommodated test forms (e. g. , TTS) • Sample student work from the spring 2018 MCAS tests • Answer keys and scoring rubrics • Math and STE: Equation editor guides and reference sheets • Resources for parents/guardians Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 39

Pearson. Access Next User Roles • PAN user accounts can be created with an “Active End Date. ” Once that date has passed, a user cannot access his or her account. • District or school test coordinators should review accounts for all staff from 2018 to update the Active End Date if necessary. o Remove or change the Active End Date by file upload or through the user interface. o Recommended: Users should update their passwords after the Active End Date has been updated. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 40

Training the Test Administration Team in CBT Procedures • Technology staff need to assist with set-up and troubleshooting. o See list of tasks in PAM Part III, section E o Training for technology coordinators on February 12 (Register at www. doe. mass. edu/conference/? Conference. ID=9954. ) o Precache test content in mid-March. o Schedule district support techs for testing days whenever possible. • Familiarize test administrators with tasks in Pearson. Access Next. o List of modules and tasks to complete in Pearson. Access Next in the PAM in Part III, section F o Expanded troubleshooting steps in PAM Appendix A. § If there is a technology situation in which a student is waiting more than 15 minutes, then schedule the student to complete the session at another time. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 41

Hardware considerations • Power strips • Battery adapters for mobile devices • Extension cords • Extra devices for each testing area • Headphones required for text-to-speech accommodation • External keyboards strongly recommended for tablets Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 42

Infrastructure Trials Confirm Main Steps • Test. Nav is configured correctly. 1. Set up and configure the test management and test delivery environment. • Proctor. Cache software is set up correctly. • Devices can successfully run Test. Nav and that online test content can pass through the content filters at the school. 2. Generate sample students and create PAN Sessions. • The network can bear the full load. 3. Administer practice tests. • Participating staff understand their roles for MCAS CBT. 4. Conduct follow-up activities and review lessons learned with the test administration team. • Students are familiar with the CBT tools/format. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 43

Questions & Answers (Use the “Questions” feature to ask questions. ) Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 44

03 Accessibility and Accommodations

MCAS Accessibility and Accommodations • See the Accessibility and Accommodations Manual at www. doe. mass. edu/mcas/accessibility/ • View recordings of previous trainings at mcas. pearsonsupport. com/training/: o January 15: Accessibility and accommodations training o January 24: SR/PNP training Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 46

MCAS Accessibility and Accommodations • Accessibility features available to all students: o Universal Accessibility Features (may differ, depending on CBT or PBT) o Designated Accessibility Features (at discretion of principal) • Accommodations available only for students with disabilities and ELs o Standard and Special Access accommodations for students with disabilities o Accommodations for ELs, with guidance based on English proficiency level • Must pre-order the accommodations in SR/PNP if listed with an “SR/PNP” designation in Accessibility and Accommodations Manual (e. g. , TTS, large print, paper, Braille) Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 47

Test Preparation STUDENTS should: • Become familiar with features and basic functionality of Test. Nav (the computer-based test platform) AND • Take online practice tests prior to test administration AND • Review student tutorial at mcas. pearsonsupport. com. SCHOOLS should: • Plan ahead for testing students with accommodations. o Schedule testing locations, test administrators, and testing time. o Set up specialized computers/AT after reviewing IEPs, 504 plans, and local EL accommodations forms. 48 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Important Reminders for CBT • Test administrators for Human Read-Aloud and Human Signer accommodations will use their own computer, print their own proctor testing ticket, and access a “test administrator” test edition. o A separate PAN Session must be created. o Responses are not saved when using a proctor testing ticket. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 49

Prohibitions for Accommodations Test administrators may not: • Provide accommodations not listed in o a student’s IEP or 504 plan o Appendix C of the PAM, without Department approval • Provide a student with a modified version of a test or a test for a different grade. • Coach or assist a student with their responses o E. g. , “Write more” or “Go back and review” Students’ results may be invalidated for these situations: • Using an English-language dictionary for ELA • Reading aloud the ELA test to a student who does not have this Special Access accommodation in his/her IEP • Giving a calculator on noncalculator session of the Mathematics test to a student who does not have this Special Access accommodation in his/her IEP • Test administrator coaching or assisting a student o Provide clues/assistance/definitions Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 50

Questions & Answers (Use the “Questions” feature to ask questions. ) Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 51

04 A District’s Perspective: Swampscott Public Schools

Administration – Swampscott’s Perspective • Create checklists of responsibilities for principals vs. technology staff. o Clearly define roles of Principals vs. Technology Team. o Tech team should not answer questions about test accommodations or security. • Create spreadsheets with logistical information, and use a different color for each test administrator. • Keep a log of CBT issues and resolutions, and share it. Review it each year before testing, and design trainings to prevent similar issues. • Set up a system to name PAN Sessions so it’s easy to search for them. Room #s are vital! o Grade_ Subject_ Teacher_ Rm____ (Gr 3 Math White 201) • Pack bins full of scratch paper and pencils for test administrators to pick up. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 53

Administration Advice – Swampscott’s Perspective • Test tickets o Print on colored paper o Different color for each grade • Computers o Use privacy screens or carrels. o Each student uses same computer for the testing window. o Colored dots on laptops help younger students return them to the correct computer cart (e. g. , red dots get returned to the red cart). Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 54

Student Tutorial – Swampscott’s Perspective • Swampscott student tutorial “scavenger hunt” o Scavenger hunt keeps students in grades 3– 8 engaged and active. o Make sure students know how to navigate the test – e. g. , § bookmark questions § answer different question types § properly sign out Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 55

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Test Administrator Training – Swampscott’s Perspective • Train on the security and administration requirements from the DESE manuals. • Have the test administrators review the tutorial and do the scavenger hunt themselves. • Extra training for staff who are less comfortable with computers • Describe technology staff vs. test administrator responsibilities. o Test administrators should not click on “resume upload. ” • Train on filtering and sorting in Pearson. Access Next. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 57

Additional Resources • Templates and checklists (sent to registrants via email) o MCAS test administration checklist for principals o MCAS test administration responsibilities for tech team o MCAS call log template o Students with accommodations template • Contact information o Lytania Mackey Knowles § Director of Technology & Digital Learning § mackey@swampscott. k 12. ma. us o Catie Porter Roberts § Digital Learning Specialist & Professional Development Coordinator § porter@swampscott. k 12. ma. us Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 58

Questions & Answers (Use the “Questions” feature to ask questions. ) Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 59

05 Resources, Support, and Next Steps

Resources • Student Assessment Updates (Biweekly email with important updates about the MCAS program) o If you do not already receive this email, subscribe by emailing imailsrv@list 1. doe. mass. edu with the following information in the body of the email: "subscribe SASUpdate Your_Name" (Example: subscribe SASUpdate John_Smith). • Resources from the Office of Digital Learning o Resources on acquiring technology, digital citizenship, and online courses may be particularly helpful for schools new to CBT • Test Designs o ELA test design (Note: There is no longer a separate composition for grade 10 ELA. ) o Mathematics test design o STE test design Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 61

February 2019 Training Sessions Date Session Topics Audience Feb. 12 Pre-Administration Tasks for Technology Staff for new staff • Technology specifications • Infrastructure Trials • Using Proctor. Cache • Software installation • Resources and support Technology Coordinators Feb. 13 Overview of Infrastructure Trials for returning staff • Tasks for technology staff • Tasks for test coordinators • Administration and next steps Principals, test coordinators, technology coordinators Feb. 15 Overview of Infrastructure Trials for new staff • Tasks for technology staff • Tasks for test coordinators • Administration and next steps Principals, test coordinators, technology coordinators Register at www. doe. mass. edu/mcas/training. html. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 62

Spring 2019 “Office Hours” Sessions Date Session Audience March 12 Session 1: • Creating, Preparing, and Starting PAN Sessions • Monitoring and Managing PAN Sessions (tasks for test administrators) • Enrollment Transfers in PAN Principals, test coordinators, test administrators March 21 Session 2: Principals, test coordinators • Updating Accommodations in PAN Before Testing • Resolving Incorrect Accommodations After Testing Has Begun • Resuming Students from “Active” Status • Stopping a PAN Session • Not Tested Reasons Register at www. doe. mass. edu/mcas/training. html. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 63

Email and Phone Support MCAS Service Center DESE Office of Student Assessment Services • All questions on logistics and technology (e. g. , Pearson. Access Next, SR/PNP, Test. Nav) • All policy questions (e. g. , student participation, accommodations) o Web: mcas. pearsonsupport. com/ o Email: mcas@measuredprogress. org o Phone: 800 -737 -5103 Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education o Web: www. doe. mass. edu/mcas o Email: mcas@doe. mass. edu o Phone: 781 -338 -3625 64

Next Steps • Today: Complete the evaluation form. o Only available when you close this Web. Ex session o Responses associated with the name and email address used to log in o Email your input to mcas@doe. mass. edu if you have problems accessing or completing the form. • Early next week: Receive email with the following resources: o The recording of this session o The Q&A from this session Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 65

06 Additional Protocols for PBT and for High School Testing

Updates for PBT • PBT booklets o Combined test & answer booklets, with test questions and answer spaces § One per subject for grades 3– 8 § One per session per subject for grade 10 ELA and Mathematics o Operational high school STE tests: separate test booklets and answer booklets • Yellow highlighter permitted in test & answer booklets (and answer booklets for the operational high school STE tests) • Prescheduled automatic pickup o A UPS driver will automatically come to the school on the pickup deadline date for each administration. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 67

Additional Security Considerations for PBT • Secure material for PBT includes o Test & answer booklets (and test booklets and answer booklets for operational high school STE) § Test questions not publicly released by the Department § Student responses to test questions • Booklets must be tracked using tracking forms. • Shrink-wrapped packages must remain sealed until close to testing: o Test & answer booklets: The day prior to testing (Then, seal in envelopes. ) o Operational high school STE answer booklets: Up to two days prior to testing Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 68

Additional Resources for Preparing Students for PBT • Released PBT questions o www. doe. mass. edu/mcas/testitems. html • Gridded response guidelines o mcas. pearsonsupport. com/student/ Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 69

Order Materials for Newly Enrolled Students • Use the overage included in the shipment of materials. o Approximately 6 percent for the spring tests (smaller for retests) • Order additional materials if overage doesn’t cover your testing needs. o www. mcasservicecenter. com • Materials are shipped for receipt on the following business day if the order is received before 12: 00 p. m. (two business days otherwise). • Remember to update the SR/PNP. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 70

Important Reminders for Accommodations for PBT • Review and follow Special Instructions to avoid problems with scoring. • Large-print booklets must be transcribed into standard booklet, and both must be returned in Special Handling Envelope. • Students’ responses in their test booklet must be transcribed into their answer booklet. • Typed responses can have 1 response per page, and each response can have a maximum length of 1 page. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 71

Reminders about Packing and Steps after Testing • Each day after testing, verify that all materials have been returned to you. (Recommended: 2 independent counts) • Double-check central storage area. o In the bottom of a bin and in between file folders • See the PAM for packing instructions and lists of materials for school files, to recycle/discard, and to securely destroy. • Use correct UPS labels. o Do not take materials to UPS or remove from building. o Do not leave materials unattended. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 72

Competency Determination (CD) Requirements • ELA and Mathematics: o Interim passing standard for classes of 2021 and 2022: Similar level of achievement to the current required standard on the legacy tests § 240 (Proficient), or § 220 (Needs Improvement) and Educational Proficiency Plan (EPP) • Operational high school STE tests: o Students must earn a scaled score of at least 220 on one of the tests. • www. doe. mass. edu/mcas/graduation. html • See PAM Part II, section D for participation requirements. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 73

Additional Steps for High Schools • Late winter/early spring: o Determine if any students in grades 11 and 12 will participate in spring tests. § Steps in PAM on page 53 o Provide written notice to adults from previous 2 years who have not yet earned their CD in STE. • Include additional topics during student meetings. • Collect CBT TAMs for use during the field tests. Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 74

Questions & Answers (Use the “Questions” feature to ask questions. ) Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education 75

THANK YOU The Office of Student Assessment Services 781 -338 -3625 www. doe. mass. edu/mcas@doe. mass. edu 75 Pleasant Street, Malden, MA 02148