Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System    DOE Requirements for Participation

MCAS is designed to measure a student's knowledge of key concepts and skills outlined in the Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks. A small number of students with the most significant disabilities who are unable to take the standard MCAS tests even with accommodations participate in the MCAS Alternate Assessment (MCAS-Alt). MCAS-Alt consists of a portfolio of specific materials collected annually by the teacher and student. Evidence for the portfolio may include work samples, instructional data, videotapes, and other supporting information.

Participation

Each student's IEP or 504  team decides how, not whether, the student will participate in MCAS in the coming year. Guidelines used by IEP Teams to make these decisions can be found in the Department publication, Participation Requirements for Students, which is updated annually.

MCAS-Alternate Assessment

The MCAS-Alt consists of a portfolio of materials collected annually by the teacher and student. Evidence for the student portfolio may include work samples, instructional data, videotapes, and other supporting information and materials based on the student's performance in the subject being assessed.