Parents/Guardians & Students,
As you are likely aware, the 10th-grade MCAS test administrations in English Language Arts (ELA), Math, and Science were placed on hold last school year due to a gubernatorial order that all schools conduct learning remotely.
“Make-up” testing for current 11th graders, initially planned for January of 2021, was placed on hold in December due to high COVID positivity rates across the state of Massachusetts.
Below I include the most recent guidance from the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE). The following criteria will determine competency determinations for MCAS testing in ELA, Math, and Science.
English Language Arts: Students need to earn a score of 472 or higher on the MCAS ELA exam. [Students in the class of 2021 may also show competency with a passing grade in an MCAS-aligned high school course.]
Math: Students need to earn a score of 486 or higher on the MCAS Mathematics exam [Students in the class of 2021 can also show competency with a passing grade in an MCAS-aligned high school course.]
Science & Technology: Students need to earn a score of 220 or higher on the Science Exam or a passing grade in an MCAS-aligned high school Science course (Physics, Biology, Chemistry). The latter will be the method used at CCHS for all of our students in YOG 2021, 2022, and 2023.
The 2021 CCHS timeline of testing will be as follows:
Testing will be computer-based and on-site at CCHS. At this time, offsite testing is not permitted by DESE. As noted above, the state has extended a “modified competency determination” in all three subjects for students in the year of graduation 2021 who have not already demonstrated competency.
On exam days, only students who are testing will attend school in-person. Normal bus transportation will be provided for these students. Due to COVID restrictions, we cannot offer in-person learning alongside MCAS testing. Students who are not testing will learn remotely. Grades 9 and 12 will learn remotely the entire day. Grades 10 and 11 will be dismissed after their testing on Wednesdays and will resume in-person learning after MCAS testing on Thursdays.
Standard COVID safety measures will remain in effect. Parents and guardians of fully-remote learners may feel some apprehension about a seated test this Spring. Parents and guardians can opt their students out of taking the examination this year, but there is no opt-out from MCAS competency as a graduation requirement in Massachusetts. Opting out of a test administration reduces the number of chances a student has to meet competency and therefore increases the possibility that a student may not graduate “on schedule” with his/her/their intended year of graduation.
We recognize this is a difficult decision for some families to make, but we encourage all students to sit for the exams as scheduled. If you have thoughtfully considered the implications and have a student in YOG 2022 or YOG 2023 who wishes to opt-out of the Spring 2021 MCAS administration, please fill out this form.
The form will be live/available through April 16th, 2021. You can expect us to reach out with more logistical information closer to the days of testing in May.
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