State Release of Spring 2017 MCAS Data An Update from the Assistant Superintendent for Learning & Teaching October 2017

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1 State Release f Spring MCAS Data An Update frm the Assistant Superintendent fr Learning & Teaching Octber MCAS Results Released by DESE As yu may knw, the Massachusetts Department f Secndary and Elementary Educatin (DESE) released results tday fr last spring s state assessments. This includes Grades 3-8 Next-Generatin MCAS results fr bth English Language Arts and Mathematics, the Science and Technlgy/Engineering MCAS results fr Grades 5/8/10, as well as the high schl MCAS results fr English Language Arts and Mathematics. The MCAS assessment data are assembled in several different tables belw. In additin t the achievement levels in each cntent area, we have als created tables t review the median Student Grwth Percentiles, as that data als prvide us imprtant infrmatin. The Student Grwth Percentile () measures hw much a student s perfrmance has imprved frm ne year t the next relative t his r her academic peers (ther students statewide with similar achievement results in prir years). Belw are sme imprtant pints frm the DESE regarding the results fr the next-generatin MCAS... The results released this week include scres frm the next-generatin MCAS, an updated versin f the test that was given fr the first time in spring t students in grades 3-8 in English language arts and mathematics. Eventually, all MCAS tests will be next-generatin MCAS. The next-generatin MCAS was develped after the Bard f Elementary and Secndary Educatin vted in Nvember 2015 t create a next-generatin, cmputer-based, and Massachusetts-specific test. It is an updated versin f the nearly 20-year-ld MCAS assessment and fcuses n students' critical thinking abilities, ability t apply their knwledge and ability t make cnnectins between reading and writing. It gives a clearer signal f readiness fr the next grade level, and the majrity f students in grades 3-8 tk the next-generatin MCAS n a cmputer. The DESE expects that the mve t cmputer-based testing shuld be cmplete by spring The achievement scre levels fr the next-generatin MCAS are different frm thse f the legacy MCAS. Next-generatin MCAS scres fall int these fur categries: Expectatins, Expectatins, Partially Expectatins, and Nt Expectatins. Apprximately fifty percent f grades 3-8 students in the state are already scring in the r Expectatins categries n the new test. Sme students will find, hwever, that they scred Prficient n the legacy MCAS in 2016 but nly Partially Expectatins n the next-generatin MCAS in. Students, parents and educatrs shuld keep in mind that: In general, the new standards fr Expectatins are mre rigrus than the standards fr reaching the Prficient level n the legacy MCAS. Massachusetts educatrs set the new standards t help signal students readiness fr the next grade level and indicate when students might need additinal help t succeed. Ultimately, this will give students a better sense f what they need t d t be prepared fr cllege r ther pst-secndary training. Spring is a baseline year fr a new test in grades 3-8, and spring scres shuld nt be cmpared t previus years scres. 1

2 The fact that apprximately 50 percent f students were Expectatins r abve in each f the next-generatin MCAS grades and subjects reflects the scring standards that 125 Massachusetts educatrs set this summer when they reviewed test questins and student respnses and cmpared them t what students need t knw t be successful in the next grade. The 50 percent is nt a grading curve; it is where the scres fell after educatrs set the standards. The educatrs valued bth readiness fr the next grade level and cnsistent acrss grades. A higher percentage f students are likely t scre Expectatins r abve in future years as students and schls becme mre familiar with the tests'. The cnsistency f the scring standards is ne benefit f creating the entire grades 3-8 nextgeneratin MCAS at nce. The legacy MCAS began in islated grades and was intrduced in ther grades in subsequent years, each time requiring a separate standard setting prcess fr that specific test. That meant that while, fr instance, the furth-grade scring standards were the same every year, they did nt necessarily reflect the same level f as the third- r fifth-grade scring standards. High schl students are still taking the legacy MCAS tests. The next-generatin tests will be intrduced at the high schl level in spring All Next-Generatin MCAS schls (Grade 3-8 schls) wh meet participatin and graduatin rate requirements will nt receive an accuntability level. Assessment results will serve as the new baseline fr target-setting in 2018 and beynd. Parents shuld receive their child's scres frm their schl district in late Octber r early Nvember. As all the data has just been made released, staff are cntinuing t review all the infrmatin that is nw available fr each schl, grade level, and cntent area. We are als, f curse, cntinuing t imprve the curriculum, instructin, and assessment in all cntent areas and grade levels in rder t better align with the next-generatin state assessments. In upcming weeks, the district, schl, and student results will be used t identify ur current strengths and weaknesses, review curriculum and instructinal alignment, and identify apprpriate interventins fr students where applicable. We will als utilize released assessment items including test questins, scring rubrics, and examples f scred student respnses t infrm ur practice. An verview presentatin f the district assessment data will be given fr the Schl Cmmittee later this fall, and each schl will als be ding its wn schl-level presentatin in rder t mre fully discuss and identify each schl s individual prgress. If yu have any questins, feel free t cntact yur schl Principal r the district administratin ffices. Belw als are several links t the DESE website fr further infrmatin abut Reading s results and the nextgeneratin MCAS. Reading Public Schls / DESE Assessment Prfile Parents Guide t the Massachusetts Cmprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) Frequently Asked Questins (FAQs) abut next-generatin MCAS Results 2

3 English Language Arts & Mathematics MCAS Fr Reading Memrial High Schl (with verall state data and als 2016/2015 results) High Schl English Language Arts and Mathematics MCAS (Percentage f Students at each achievement scre level) Higher Adv Prf NI W Higher Adv Prf NI W Higher Adv Prf NI W RMHS ELA RMHS Math State HS ELA State HS Math Adv=Advanced / Prf=Prficient / NI=Needs Imprvement / W=Warning (Failing) High Schl Student Grwth Percentiles () High Grwth Mderate Grwth Lw Grwth Mderate t High Grwth Median Mderate t High Grwth Median Mderate t High Grwth RMHS ELA RMHS Math Massachusetts measures grwth fr students by cmparing the change in their achievement n statewide assessments t that f their academic peers (all ther students in the state wh previusly had similar histrical assessment results). The state defines mderate (r expected) grwth t be between the percentile, with lw grwth as belw the 40 th percentile and high abve the 60 th percentile. Median Science and Technlgy/Engineering MCAS Fr all Reading Public Schls (with verall state data and als 2016/2015 results) Science and Technlgy/Engineering MCAS (Percentage f Students, by schl, at each achievement scre level) Higher Adv Prf NI W Higher Adv Prf NI W Higher Adv Prf NI W Barrws Birch Meadw Eatn Killam Wd End Clidge Parker RMHS State Gr State Gr State HS Adv=Advanced / Prf=Prficient / NI=Needs Imprvement / W=Warning (Failing) 3

4 English Language Arts Next-Generatin MCAS Achievement Levels: Expectatins Expectatins Partially Expectatins Nt Expectatins English Language Arts / MCAS (Percentage f students, by schl and grade level, at each achievement level) Nt meeting Partially r Expectatins State Grade Grade Grade Barrws Grade Grade Grade Birch Meadw Grade Grade Grade Eatn Grade Grade Grade Killam Grade Grade Grade Wd End Grade Grade Grade State Grade Grade Grade Clidge Grade Grade Grade Parker Grade Grade Grade (See next page fr Math results) 4

5 Mathematics Next-Generatin MCAS Achievement Levels: Expectatins Expectatins Partially Expectatins Nt Expectatins Mathematics / MCAS (Percentage f students, by schl and grade level, at each achievement level) Nt meeting Partially r Expectatins State Grade Grade Grade Barrws Grade Grade Grade Birch Meadw Grade Grade Grade Eatn Grade Grade Grade Killam Grade Grade Grade Wd End Grade Grade Grade State Grade Grade Grade Clidge Grade Grade Grade Parker Grade Grade Grade (See next page fr infrmatin) 5

6 Student Grwth Percentiles () Massachusetts measures grwth fr individual students by cmparing the change in their achievement n statewide assessments t that f their academic peers (all ther students in the state wh previusly had similar histrical assessment results). The state defines mderate (r expected) grwth t be between the percentile, with lw grwth as belw the 40 th percentile and high grwth as abve the 60 th percentile. English Language Arts / Mathematics Student Grwth Percentiles (Median ) Schl/Grade English Language Arts MCAS 2016 PARCC / 2015 PARCC Mathematics MCAS 2016 PARCC / 2015 PARCC Barrws Grade 3 Grade Grade Birch Grade 3 Grade Grade Eatn Grade 3 Grade Grade Killam Grade 3 Grade Grade Wd End Grade 3 Grade Grade Clidge Grade Grade Grade Algebra I Parker Grade Grade Grade Algebra I Schl Accuntability Level RMHS Level 2 Clidge Parker Barrws Birch Meadw Eatn Killam Wd End 6