Dudley-Charlton Regional School District2009 MCAS Information

October 2009

What does the MCAS assess at each grade

level?

Elementary School

Grade 3– English Language Arts (ELA) Reading

Comprehension – Mathematics

Grade 4– English Language Arts (ELA) Reading

Comprehension and Composition– Mathematics

Middle SchoolGrade 5

– English Language Arts (ELA) Reading Comprehension – Mathematics– Science

Grade 6– English Language Arts (ELA) Reading Comprehension – Mathematics

Grade 7– English Language Arts (ELA) Reading Comprehension

and Composition– Mathematics

Grade 8– English Language Arts (ELA) Reading Comprehension – Mathematics– Science

High School

Grade 10– English Language Arts (ELA)

Reading Comprehension and Composition

– Mathematics– Science

2009 Sample MCAS Question: Grade 4 Mathematics

2009 Sample MCAS Response: Grade 4 Mathematics

2009 Sample MCAS Scoring Guide: Grade 4 Mathematics

2009 Sample MCAS Question: Grade 7 Mathematics

2009 Sample MCAS Response: Grade 7 Mathematics

2009 Sample MCAS Question: Grade 10 Mathematics

2009 Sample MCAS Response: Grade 10 Mathematics

Changes to the Parents’ ReportsFor all Grades

• Information from the parent books is now printed on the report

• Information on “sub-content areas” is now included

This section shows the percentage of possible points earned by the child in each sub-content area.

It also includes the percentage of possible points earned by students who performed at the low end of the Proficient level across the state.

Changes to the Parents’ Reportsfor Grades 3 - 8

In the “How your child did on individual test questions” section –

Only answers for the publicly released questions are included. This does not represent all of the child’s responses.

MCAS Parent Report

How do we prepare our students for MCAS?

• Use of curriculum that is aligned with the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks

• Annual MCAS Goal Planning (Performance Improvement Planning) based on the areas of concern at each grade level

• Professional development in literacy and mathematics

• Utilization of Open Response Questions as practice during the school year

• Curriculum Mapping in Mathematics PreK-12

• Individual Student Success Plans created to support struggling students

What measures have been taken within the last several years at each level?

Grades 3 - 4• Before and after school programs providing additional support

to students• Breakfast program• Houghton Mifflin reading program, based on scientifically-

based reading research• Direct instruction of comprehension strategies using 7 Keys to

Comprehension • Reading Club providing an extra-dose of small group reading

instruction • Explicit instruction in answering open-response format

questions using Teaching Written Response to Text• Flexible grouping • Differentiated instruction• Mentoring program matching building staff with struggling

students• Use of research-based assessment tools• Progress Monitoring of struggling students• Use of Response to Intervention (RTI) techniques to enhance

student learning• MCAS Parent Information Night

Grades 5 - 8

• Before and after school programs providing additional support to students

• School wide mentoring program for student support

• Peer tutoring • Breakfast program• Exploratory program – MCAS prep. • Study Island (MCAS preparation on-line program) • Analysis of student work samples • MCAS Practice Tests – Mock MCAS (M & M) • Homework Help after school club

Grades 9 -10

• Additional elective courses in Math, English and Science

• MCAS Biology Prep course for grade 11 students• Study Island website available for additional

support• Spring MCAS Tutoring Program (Grant funded)• Summer MCAS Prep Program (Grant funded)• Instructional Support Team process reviewed

Addressing Areas of Concern

1. Grade2. Content Area3. Subgroup4. Statement of goal5. One identified action step for this goal

What are the Areas of Success?

• Grade / Subgroup• Content Area• Improvement in student performance

As always . . .

• Should you have ANY questions or concerns, please contact the Building Administration.

Teac

hers P

arents

Administrators

Academic Success = Working Together!

Students