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Test Purpose
The MCAS graduation requirement is focusing unprecedented public attention on the achievement gap in every school, and is pushing educators, parents, and communities to make sure that all students develop fundamental skills.
There are sever reasons to stay the course:
All Children Deserve Access to a High Quality Education
Because of education reform, over $8 billion in new state money has been invested in leveling the playing field and ensuring that all schools have access to the resources their students need. While the funding gap may have diminished, the achievement gap has not. All students-no matter where they live-deserve access to the fundamental reading, writing, and math skills that they will need to do well in college and on the job. High stakes are driving us to keep that commitment. Tests are not the answer, but they do force us to solve a longstanding problem. The MCAS graduation requirement is focusing unprecedented public attention on the achievement gap in every school, and is pushing educators, parents, and communities to make sure that all students develop fundamental skills.
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Students Who Need Extra Help Are Getting It
The state has invested nearly $130 million in programs designed to help students who are lacking basic skills. Ranging from summer and after school programs to targeted in-school programs, tutoring, and computer assistance, these opportunities for extra help are ensuring that students learn the English and math skills they need. |
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MCAS Is Improving Student Learning in English and Math
Across Massachusetts, students are writing more then ever, learning math in a real-world context, and using analytical skills to solve problems-all skills tested by the math and English MCAS tests. For those students who might have otherwise slipped through the cracks-earning Cs and Ds, but lacking the skills those grades represent-MCAS is helping teachers better understand their needs and find good ways to help them learn. |
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MCAS Tests Skills That Matter
These are not simply fill-in-the-bubble tests. Close to half of each student's score on the English and math tests is based on short written answers or longer essay questions. These questions measure real skills in reading, writing, and solving problems-not just in memorizing facts. Furthermore, the MCAS is an untimed test, allowing students to take as much time as they need to write thoughtful responses to short answer and essay questions. Massachusetts developed statewide curriculum standards in English and math first, and then based its tests on those standards. |
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Dental Assisting and Dental Hygiene
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| Dental Admission Test (DAT), | | |
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Education and Teacher Assisting
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| ACCUPLACER (ACCUPLACER), American College Test (ACT), Arizona Educator Proficiency Assessments (AEPA), Armed Services Vocational Aptitude Battery (ASVAB), ASSET (ASSET), California Basic Educational Skills Test (CBEST), College-Level Academic Skills Test (CLAST), COMPASS (COMPASS), General Educational Development (GED), Georgia High School Graduation Test (GHSGT), Graduate Management Admission Test (GMAT), Graduate Record Examination (GRE), Law School Admission Test (LSAT), Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS), Massachusetts Tests for Educator Licensure (MTEL), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Michigan Test for Teacher Certification (MTTC), Miller Analogies Test (MAT), National Merit Scholarship Qualifying Test (NMSQT), New Mexico Teacher Assessment (NMTA), Ohio Graduation Test (OGT), Optometry Admission Test (OAT), ParaPro Assessment (ParaPro), Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT), Program for Licensing Assessments for Colorado Educators (PLACE), Scholastic Aptitude Test (SAT), Secondary School Admission Test (SSAT), Test Of English as a Foreign Language (TOEFL), Test of Essential Academic Skills (TEAS), Tests of Adult Basic Education (TABE), Texas Higher Education Assessment (THEA), Washington Educator Skills Test—Basic (WEST-B), | | |
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Medical and Allied Health
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| Allied Health Professions Admission Test (AHPAT), Health Occupations Basic Entrance Test (HOBET), Medical College Admission Test (MCAT), Nurse Entrance Test (NET), Professional and Linguistic Assessment Board (PLAB), | | |
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Office and Administrative Professionals
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| Criterion-Referenced Competency Tests (CRCT), Miller Analogies Test (MAT), Test of English for International Communication (TOEIC), Wonderlic Personnel Test (WPT), | | |
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Pharmacy Technology
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| Pharmacy College Admission Test (PCAT), | | |
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