Overview
The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) is designed to meet the requirements of the Education Reform Law of 1993. This law specifies that the testing program must:
- Test all public school students in Massachusetts, including students with disabilities and limited English proficient students.
- Measure performance based on the 2011 Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks.
- Report on the performance of individual students, schools, and districts.
As required by the Education Reform Law, students must earn a scaled score of at least 240 on the Grade 10 ELA and Mathematics MCAS test. Students must also earn a scaled score of at least 220 on one of the high school MCAS Science and Technology/Engineering (STE) tests: Biology, Chemistry, Introductory Physics, or Technology/Engineering. The students must also meet the local requirements of their high school to obtain a high school diploma.
In addition, the MCAS program is used to hold schools and districts accountable, on an annual basis, for the progress they make on this assessment.
Please refer to the links below for more detailed information.