Introduction and Background The MCAS Alternate Assessment (MCAS-Alt) has been administered annually in Massachusetts since 2001. According to state and federal laws, all students with disabilities are required to participate in statewide assessments, either by taking standard MCAS tests with or without accommodations, or by taking the MCAS-Alt. Decisions regarding how each student will participate in MCAS must be made by the student’s IEP team and documented in the student’s IEP; or listed in the student’s 504 plan. Portfolio Contents and Structure The MCAS-Alt portfolio consists of a structured collection of compiled throughout the school year that documents the student’s “evidence” knowledge and skills based on the Massachusetts curriculum framework learning standards in the content area being assessed. Evidence is organized into in the portfolio according to standards specified for assessment in each content area. “strands” Each strand includes the following products and information (with the exception of ELAWriting for which only writing samples are required): one data chart showing the student’s performance on at least eight different dates, based on a skill listed in the state’s Resource Guide for students with disabilities in the learning standard and subject being assessed at least two work samples, video clips, and/or photographs showing the student’s performance based on the skill listed on the data chart, with a brief description of how the student demonstrated the skill examples of materials and tools used by the student, reflection sheets, and other supporting documentation at the discretion of the teacher Creation of portfolios is guided by information in the Department’s publication entitled Educator’s Manual for MCAS-Alt, is updated annually. The educator’s manual is posted on the Department’s website at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/alt/resources.html and is also made available at Department-sponsored training events. Scoring of MCAS-Alt Portfolios After portfolios are submitted to the Department in late March, they are reviewed at a scoring institute sponsored by the Department and its test contractor. The 2018 Guidelines for Scoring MCAS-Alt Portfolios (this publication) provides detailed information on the scoring process that will be used by scorers to review and rate each student’s portfolio. The 2018 Guidelines for Scoring MCAS-Alt Portfolios is available online at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/alt/results.html. General Guidelines for Scorers
Introduction and Background The MCAS Alternate Assessment (MCAS-Alt) has been administered annually in Massachusetts since 2001. According to state and federal laws, all students with disabilities are required to participate in statewide assessments, either by taking standard MCAS tests with or without accommodations, or by taking the MCAS-Alt. Decisions regarding how each student will participate in MCAS must be made by the student’s IEP team and documented in the student’s IEP; or listed in the student’s 504 plan. Portfolio Contents and Structure The MCAS-Alt portfolio consists of a structured collection of “evidence” compiled throughout the school year that documents the student’s knowledge and skills based on the Massachusetts curriculum framework learning standards in the content area being assessed. Evidence is organized into “strands” in the portfolio according to standards specified for assessment in each content area. Each strand includes the following products and information (with the exception of ELAWriting for which only writing samples are required): one data chart showing the student’s performance on at least eight different dates, based on a skill listed in the state’s Resource Guide for students with disabilities in the learning standard and subject being assessed at least two work samples, video clips, and/or photographs showing the student’s performance based on the skill listed on the data chart, with a brief description of how the student demonstrated the skill examples of materials and tools used by the student, reflection sheets, and other supporting documentation at the discretion of the teacher Creation of portfolios is guided by information in the Department’s publication entitled Educator’s Manual for MCAS-Alt, is updated annually. The educator’s manual is posted on the Department’s website at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/alt/resources.html and is also made available at Department-sponsored training events. Scoring of MCAS-Alt Portfolios After portfolios are submitted to the Department in late March, they are reviewed at a scoring institute sponsored by the Department and its test contractor. The 2018 Guidelines for Scoring MCAS-Alt Portfolios (this publication) provides detailed information on the scoring process that will be used by scorers to review and rate each student’s portfolio. The 2018 Guidelines for Scoring MCAS-Alt Portfolios is available online at www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/alt/results.html. General Guidelines for Scorers
scoreguide.docx