MCAS: Exploring the Past, Present and Future + Opinion

The Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, otherwise known as MCAS, was created in 1993. For the past few decades, MCAS has required all Massachusetts students to take the test, with few exceptions. MCAS was mandated for all students after the implementation of the Massachusetts Education Reform Law. The law was put in place after the Massachusetts Education Reform Act (MERA) occurred. MERA...

Each year, Wayland students across the district prepare to take the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS). In most years, the scores in Wayland remain steady across the district; however, this year MCAS scores dramatically declined throughout the state. The scoring method that MCAS uses isn’t discussed often, and it is often overlooked. MCAS uses a scoring system out of 280. According...

As more and more opposition towards MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System) has surfaced, many are wondering what the future of the test looks like. The Massachusetts Teachers Association has strongly advocated for the removal of the MCAS graduation requirement, believing that it would be more beneficial to develop a different way of assessing students that would more accurately portray students' abilities. ...