Changes in store for MCAS
Published on November 29th, 2006
STONEHAM, MA - The School Committee got their annual fill of MCAS data recently as new School Superintendent Anne Patriquin presented results of the Spring 2006 exam.
In general, Stoneham students continue to do well on MCAS, beating the state's passing rates nearly across the board. But Stoneham, like other Massachusetts communities who perform detailed analysis of returning MCAS scores, continue to be challenged in identifying and improving areas where Stoneham scores lagged, as well as in keeping up with ever changing state mandated MCAS requirements.
On October 24, the state Board of Education voted in favor of the following changes in MCAS requirements:
•Beginning with 2010-2011, all students will be tested in Science and will need a score of 220 to pass. In addition, passing grades for ELA and Math will increase from 220 to 240. For students scoring between 222 and 238, individual proficiency plans must be developed to include detailed plans and assessments for bringing that student's score up to 240.
•For 2012 and beyond, all students will be tested in History as well and will need to achieve a score of 220 for both the History and Science, and a 240 for ELA and Math. Individual proficiency plans will again be required for those scoring in ELA and Math between 222 and 238. It is expected that some of the changes will carry budget impacts, specifically the development of these proficiency plans, which in effect will be similar to the Individual Education Plans that Special Education currently uses. "They (the state) want to know what we're going to do in October, in November, in December to have a child learn this standard," Patriquin said, explaining that the state will require a formative plan rather than a summary plan for each student's progress toward achieving a 240 score.
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