More kids pass state MCAS
Published on March 6th, 2002
STONEHAM, MA – Twenty-five more Spartans can graduate with their class in 2003 because of their improved performance on a tough test.
State law requires students to pass the math and English & language arts sections of the Massachusetts Comprehensive System Assessment (MCAS) test to graduate from public high school.
Twenty-six Stoneham High juniors retook the math section in the December 2001 retest, and 14 passed. Sixteen juniors retook the English section, and 11 passed. Statewide about 14 percent of the class of 2003, or 9,800 students, still must pass English, and about 21 percent, or 14,200, must still pass math.
The students who failed have three more shots before graduation: the spring 2002 MCAS, the December 2002 retest and the spring 2003 test.
Stoneham Assistant Superintendent of Schools Joseph Casey said the schools are working hard to help the students. Almost $30,000 in grant money has been channeled into optional, free MCAS prep classes. A student who fails must meet with counselors to develop an individual student success plan.
Afternoon and evening courses are offered in the fall to students who need extra help, and a “spring training” of sorts, as Casey says, is offered in a similar schedule to all high school students several weeks before the spring exam. Of the 2001 spring training roster, 92 percent passed the math section in May of 2001 and 86 percent passed English.
Stoneham has applied for a $21,700 state grant to run summer MCAS prep.
“Now the parents and students must step forward,” Casey said. The schools cannot make kids take the classes.
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