Spring 2014 MCAS Information Night for Parents of Grade 10 Students

1. March 11, 2014 Gabriella White Academic & Testing Coordinator Spring 2014MCAS Information Nightfor Parents of Grade 10 Students

2. Agenda • General Information • Dates • Test Structure and Design • Scores • Test Administration • Results Reporting • Preparation of Students

3. General Information • The MCAS tests English, Math and Science. • By state law, all Grade 10 students in Massachusetts are required to participate in the MCAS test. • Beginning with the class of 2002, all students in Massachusetts have been required to earn a passing score on the English and Math Test to be eligible for graduation. • The class of 2010 was the first class who was also required to pass the Science and Technology test for graduation.

4. Test Dates • English Language Arts • March 18 • March 19 • March 21 • Math • May 13 • May 14 • Science • June 2 • June 3

5. Test Design • Classroom teachers from around the state meet in committees to review and approve test questions. • Test questions are then given a trial run on spring tests. • Questions are then reviewed a second time before being used on the active test. • All questions are based on the state approved frameworks for the subject area

6. English Language Arts • Four sections to the test: • Long Composition • 3 sessions of reading comprehension • Three types of questions • Long Composition • Open Response • Multiple Choice

7. Long Composition • Worth 20 points • 12 points for topic development • 8 points for English conventions • All students in the state answer the same essay question. • The question is open ended, and always asks students to write about a piece of literature. • The essays should answer the question. • It should not be a plot summary of the book • A plot summary equals zero (0) points

8. Can be in 5 paragraph essay format, but this will result in a reduced topic development score • Want to be able to see the student’s “voice” • Can use a dictionary on the long composition section • Students will write a rough draft first • Final compositions will be scored for spelling and grammar

9. Long composition will be administered on March 18 • If students are absent, they will be required to participate in the long composition make up test on March 27 • This is the only make up date for the long composition test • Students will answer a different essay prompt

10. Sample Question – 2010 Spring Test

11. Reading Comprehension • 3 sessions of reading comprehension • March 19: Sessions 1 and 2 • March 21: Session 3 • Trial questions and reading passages will be included on the test, but will not count towards the final score • Absent students must make up missed sessions no later than March 28 • There is not a separate test for missed reading comprehension sessions

12. After reading each passage, students will be asked to answer several multiple choice questions • In addition to the multiple choice questions, students will be asked to write open response questions for some passages • Some readings will only have multiple choice questions but no reading will only have open response questions

13. Open Response Questions • 4 points each • Open response questions will ask students to make an argument, backed up by evidence from the reading passage • More than one possible correct answer • Not scored for spelling or grammar • Not a 5 paragraph essay • Looking for students to cite evidence • Direct quotes • Indirect quotes • Examples

14. Sample Question – 2010 Spring Test

15. Mathematics • 2 Sessions • May 13: session 1 • May 14: session 2 • 3 types of questions • Multiple Choice • Short Answer • Open Response • No calculators allowed on session 1 • All students are allowed to use calculators on session 2 • Answer booklets include a graph paper section • All students are given a reference sheet of formulas

16. Short Answer • Worth 1 points each • Student must perform calculation and record answer • Students can not choose from list of possible answers

17. Sample Question – 2010 Spring Test

18. Open Response • Worth 4 points • Students are asked to answer a multiple part question based on a set of given parameters • Students must label all parts of the question • Sometimes the different parts of the question build off of each other • Students must EXPLAIN their answers and not just give calculations • Not scored for spelling or grammar, but points can be deducted for not labeling answers • 23 cars • 4 pounds

19. Sample Question – 2010 Spring Test

20. Science & Technology • Tests available in Biology, Physics, Chemistry and Science/Technology • Schools have the option of testing in grades 9 or 10 • Students must take the test corresponding to the subject they are currently enrolled in • Nashoba Valley Technical School students take the Biology test in grade 10

21. Biology Test • 2 sessions • June 2: session 1 • June 3: session 2 • 2 types of questions • Multiple Choice • Open Response • Can use calculators, but the biology test is designed to be taken without the use of calculators • Cumulative knowledge test

22. Open Response • Worth 4 points • Students are often given a reading passage, chart, graph or diagram • Questions leave room for multiple possible answers • Not scored for spelling or grammar

23. Sample Open Response Question – Spring 2010

24. Questions

25. How Scores are Calculated • The raw score is calculated first • Total number of points earned • No points are deducted for wrong or skipped scores • The raw score is then converted to a scaled score using a conversion chart • Scaled score is used to determine performance level and growth score • Growth score shows how much a student has improved or grown since their last MCAS test

26. Performance Levels • Advanced: 260-280 • Proficient: 240-258 • Needs Improvement: 220-238 • Failing: 200-218

27. Competency Determination • Determines eligibility for graduation • Must meet MCAS requirements • Must also meet local graduation requirements • English and Math • Earn a scaled score of 240 or higher • Earn a scaled score of 220 AND fulfill the requirements of an Educational Proficiency Plan (EPP) • Science • Earn a scaled score of 220 or higher

28. What is an EPP? • Required for all student who score at the Needs Improvement Level on the MCAS test • Students must show they are making progress towards proficiency – improving • Students show improvement by: • Classroom grades • Standardized test scores • Final exams • Self-Assessments • Teacher progress reports • MCAS/EPP Testing

29. Can Students Be Written Off An EPP? • Yes • Students can be written off of an EPP by participating in the MCAS/EPP Test and earning a scaled score of 240 or higher • MCAS/EPP Test for English is the March Retest • MCAS/EPP Test for Math is administered at the end of April • All students on an EPP are required to participate • If students score the same or lower it will NOT lower their scores

30. What If A Student Fails English or Math? • Students who score below 220 have two retest opportunities to improve their score • November • March • Structure remains the same except: • All sample questions are removed from the retest • Questions designed to test advanced students are removed from the retest

31. What If A Student Fails Science? • Retest opportunity in February of the following year • Retest opportunity is in Biology • If students do not earn a scaled score of 220 or higher on the Biology retest in February, they must participate in either the Physics or Chemistry testin June • Choice of test depends on which class the student is enrolled in • There is no EPP for Science

32. MCAS Appeals • Students who have participated in testing and retesting and have good grades in the subject, but have not passed the MCAS exam may qualify for an appeal. • Students must maintain a 95% attendance rate to be eligible for an appeal • Students must maintain a GPA over 1.0 in the corresponding course • Student GPA is compared to a cohort of students within the school who scored between 220-228 on the MCAS exam • If granted an appeal, students qualify for graduation

33. John and Abigail Adams Scholarship • For Advanced Students • Provides free tuition for 4 years at any Massachusetts state university, college or community college • To be eligible: • The average of students English, Science and Math scores must be in the top 25% of scores from NVTHS • Students must score in the advanced category on either the English, science or the Math test, and be at least proficient in the other two • Scholarship winners are announced in the fall of their Senior year

34. Questions?

35. Testing Times • Testing is scheduled from 8:00 – 11:00 on most test days (periods 1-4). • There are some exceptions based on the length of the testing session. • The test is untimed. • Extra time rooms are provided for students who need time beyond the 11:00 cut off. • Students may work on the test until the close of the school day.

36. Testing Rooms • Each room has two teachers assigned to administer the test. • Students and staff are informed of their room assignments approximately 1 week prior to testing. • I work with Melissa LeRay, the Director of Special Education, to arrange for small group, read aloud, word processing and all other accommodations for students on an IEP or 504 plan. • Testing takes place on the second floor, the library, and all computer labs in the academic portion of the building. • All freshmen, juniors and seniors are sent to their technical program until 5th period (11:00). • No one but test administrators and grade 10 students are allowed on the second floor during MCAS administration.

37. Materials Provided • Each Student is Provided: • Pencil • Magic Rub Eraser • Highlighter • Snack • Math reference sheet for Math testing • Calculators for Session 2 of Math testing • A dictionary is provided for each classroom on the day of the English Long Composition • Graphic organizers and other reference sheets for special education students with the graphic organizer/reference sheet accommodation. • Calculators for Session 1 of the Math test for special education students with this accommodation • Computers for special education students with the word processing accommodation

38. Prohibited Items • CELL PHONES!!!!! • Can invalidate student, classroom or school scores • iPods and other electronic devices • Unapproved reference materials • Calculators on session 1 of the math test • Dictionaries on anything other than the English Long Composition • Thesaurus

39. What can you do to help?

40. Be positive and encouraging • Get students to school on time • Do not schedule any appointments for students on MCAS testing mornings • Make sure students eat a good breakfast • Make sure students get a good night sleep the night before • Discuss a book with your child before the Long Composition • Emphasize importance of answering all parts of open response questions, answering the question asked and labeling answers • Remind students to guess – no points are deducted – rather than leaving questions blank • Educated guessing is even better: try to eliminate one or two answer choices • Encourage students to check their work, take their time and use the extra time if necessary • Review the Math Reference Sheet • Remind students to use the dictionary for spelling on the long composition • Keep cell phones at home

41. Thank you for Coming! Questions?