The Boston Public Schools will give MCAS tests to students in grades 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 10 and will re-test those grade 11 students who failed MCAS grade 10 tests. Your rights will vary by grade.

1. My child is in 10th grade. Must she or he take and pass the MCAS to graduate?

Yes. Unless the Massachusetts Board of Education changes its current policy, students graduating in or after 2003 (including this year’s 11^th graders) must take and pass two MCAS tests to obtain a diploma: English Language Arts and Math. Under Boston’s Promotion Policy, to graduate, students also must pass required courses. Note: Students do not need to take or pass MCAS tests in science or history to graduate.

 

2. My child is in 11th grade but failed to pass MCAS in grade 10.  Must he take and pass MCAS to graduate?

Yes.  Juniors who failed either the English Language Arts or Math MCAS test in grade 10 have a right to take it again in grade 11. The retest exam is a shorter test than the 10^th grade exam and does not include as many advanced or proficient level questions. Students who fail one retest can take another retest.

 

3. My child is in 8th grade. Must she take and pass MCAS to go to high school?

No.   To be promoted to grade 9, students must pass 10 of 12 required middle school courses and pass one reading test and one math test that BPS uses to assess students’skills by the end of grade 8 or summer school. (Reading tests: Stanford 9 or Scholastic Reading Inventory or Qualitative Reading Inventory or Gates-MacGinite or Flynt-Cooter Reading Assessment.) (Math tests: Stanford 9 or BPS Math Benchmark Assessment or BPS Math Tasks.) A student who passes course work, but does not pass one of these reading and math tests, will move to grade 9 as a “transition” student and will receive additional reading and math instruction in grade 9. Note: Some Boston pilot schools may not use MCAS results or other tests for        admission or grade placement.

 

4. My child is in grade 7, must he take and pass a MCAS English Language Arts test to be promoted to grade 8? My child is in grade 6, must she take and pass a MCAS Math test to be promoted to grade 7?           

No. Promotion from one grade to another in middle school is based on satisfactory course work, not on MCAS. But in grade 6, students also must pass one skills test in reading and one in math to earn a passing grade in English and math. See #5
 

5. Do my child’s scores on MCAS tests influence her grades? 

No. MCAS results do not affect course grades. But in grades 3, 6, and 9, student scores on other          citywide reading and math tests do influence course grades in English and math. For example, under the BPS         Promotion Policy (2002), to get a passing grade in English, grade 6 students must pass one grade 6 citywide reading test (Stanford 9 or Scholastic Reading Inventory or Quality Reading Inventory or Flynt-Cooter Reading Assessment.). To get a passing grade in math, grade 6  students must pass one grade 6 citywide math test (Stanford 9 or BPS Math Benchmark Assessment or BPS Math Tasks).

 

6. My child is in grade 5. Must he take and pass MCAS History and Science tests to be promoted to middle school?

No.  A student must pass three 5^th grade courses: English Language Arts and math and either history or science. But students who failed history or science in grade 4 must pass history and science in grade 5. In addition, all students must pass one grade 5 reading and one grade 5 math test (Reading tests: Stanford 9 or Scholastic Reading Inventory or Quality Reading Inventory or Flynt-Cooter Reading Assessment. Math tests: Stanford 9 or BPS Math Benchmark Assessment or BPS Math Tasks.) A student who passes course work but does not pass one of these tests will go to grade 6 as a “transition” student and get additional instruction in reading and math in grade 6.

 

7. My child is in grade 4. Must she take and pass MCAS English/Language Arts and Math tests to be promoted to grade 5?

No. To be promoted from grade 4 to 5, a student must pass three grade 4 courses: English Language Arts and math and either history or science.

 

8. My child is in grade 3. Must he take and pass a MCAS Reading test to be promoted to grade 4?

No.  A student must pass English Language Arts and math courses and one math test (Stanford 9 or BPS Math Assessment or BPS Math Tasks).  In addition, a student who does not take or pass the MCAS reading test can go to grade 4 if he demonstrates sufficient skills on one other reading test (Developmental Reading Assessment or Scholastic Reading Inventory or Stanford 9 or Gates-MacGinite or Flynt-Cooter).

 

9.  My child has difficulty with standardized tests.  Can my child get more time or other accommodations?   

Yes. But make arrangements before April when MCAS testing starts.  (a) Make an appointment to meet with your child’s teacher and the Team that devises individualized education plans [IEPs] for students with disabilities or the 504 Team for students who need other accommodations. (b) Make a written request to the Team and to BPS Director of Unified Student Services that on MCAS your child needs extra time or other standard accommodations such as a small group setting, large print or Braille, or a word-processor or new non-standard accommodations such as a calculator, number chart, math table, or spell-check etc. (c) Be sure to sign and date an “IEP Amendment Form” that specifies the accommodations or alternate assessments needed for each MCAS content area: reading, English Language Arts, math, science, history. Note: Parents have a right to reject or suggest changes to an IEP Amendment developed by the school.

 

10. My child has unique and significant issues and cannot take pen-and-paper tests even with accommodations. Can my child submit a portfolio?

Yes.  Students who cannot take MCAS tests even with accommodations have a right to demonstrate their knowledge and skills through a portfolio of their best work.  Be sure that your school identifies your child for this option and starts collecting student work samples in the fall. Students have a right to help select their best work. Parents have a right to review the portfolio in April and to add letters of support by counselors, employers, after-school staff and community members who know your child’s achievements. Your school must mail the portfolio to the Department of Education by May 10, 2002. Your child has a right to resubmit the portfolio if reviewers do not give it a passing grade.

 

11. How can I tell if my child understands math and reading well enough to be promoted and/or to graduate this year if he or she does not take MCAS?            

Make an appointment to meet your child’s teachers and ask to review samples of your child’s school work, corrected homework, classroom tests, other standardized tests, and your child’s portfolio.

 

12. How can I tell if my child is in danger of being held back?

By the end of January, your child’s school must send you a written notice if your child is at risk of being held back. Every other month from February to June, the school must send you written progress reports.

 

13. Can my child be held back more than once?

Generally, No.  Under the BPS Promotion Policy, if your child has been held back once in elementary school, he cannot be held back again in elementary school. If your child has been held back once in middle school, he cannot be held back again in middle school. In rare cases, a     principal may determine that your child should be held back a second time in either elementary or middle school but only if it is in the student’s best interest. As a parent, you have a right to meet with the principal and your child’s teachers to learn what the school plans to do differently to educate your child if he is held back and compare their plan to the services he would get if he advances to the next grade.  If you are not convinced that retention is in your child’s best educational or personal interest, make your views known to the principal at the case review meeting. You also have a right to appeal the principal’s decision to a Deputy Superintendent. 

 

14. Can my child be forced to go to mandatory summer school?

No. A student does not have to go to summer school, but may enroll by choice. BPS offers a free    summer school program for students who do not pass English Language Arts or math courses or test requirements in grades 2, 3, and 5-9. Students who attend summer school can move to the next grade or a “transition” program in September. Students who do not attend summer school may be held back.

 

15. Can I keep my child home during the days when MCAS tests are given?                                                    
No.  Make advanced arrangements with the Principal to have your child attend school but not take MCAS. Massachusetts’ law requires children under 16 to attend school. Students with more than 12 unexcused absences may be held back. Students who cut classes may be subject to suspension from school or other school discipline.

 

16. Can my child be suspended from school for choosing not to take MCAS?

No. The BPS Code of Discipline (1998) does not allow principals or teachers the power to suspend, transfer or expel a student for failure to take MCAS or other standardized tests. School officials may discipline a student for excessive cutting of classes; but school officials must try less severe sanctions before initiating charges for suspension. According to the Superintendent’s office, students will be subject to discipline if they disrupt testing. The Superintendent’s office may discipline students who encourage others to boycott the test although such activity may be protected free speech. Note:  Students who do not take MCAS will receive a failing score from the Department of Education and the school’s overall average score will be reduced.

 

17. Can my child be punished for circulating petitions or flyers or wearing political buttons or T-shirts against MCAS?

No. The BPS Code of Discipline (1998) acknowledges student rights under the U. S. Constitution. Students have a right to wear political buttons or T-shirts. Students have a right to distribute petitions and printed materials on school property without prior approval by school administrators, provided that materials include the name and address of the individual or sponsoring organization and distribution takes place during periods before school begins, after dismissal, and during lunchtime so as not to interfere with classes. Students have a right to use their own bulletin boards without censorship and to have reasonable use of the public address system and other school media facilities when classes are not in session. In taking political action of any kind, students cannot act in ways that reasonably can be forecast to cause substantial disruption of school or classroom activity or otherwise incite illegal acts.

 

 

Prepared by Peggy Wiesenberg, Esq., member of the Citywide Parents Council Board of Directors and

Boston Coalition for Authentic Reform of Education (CARE – 617-864-4810).