Mass Insight Education

Lead: Despite much controversy over the MCAS, many believe that they are good measures of kids’ abilities, future employers included.

As high school sophomores begin to prepare for the spring round of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS), employers in the Bay State are preparing to adapt MCAS scores into a format compatible with their existing entrance tests. The MCAS have been criticized by some as emphasizing students’ content knowledge over critical thinking skills. But Linda Neri, Communications Director of Mass Insight Education stresses that many of the MCAS questions do force students to think critically. The multiple-choice questions require students to mentally know and be able to explain the correct answers. Neri says colleges and employers are especially interested in the open-ended questions because this is the exact kind of thinking they look for in perspective students and employees.

Mass Insight Education and Research Institute
18 Tremont Street, Suite 930
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 722-4160
www.massinsight.com

• Mass Insight Education is a nonprofit independent corporation
• The corporation was formed in 1997
• Mass Insight Education supports the 1993 Education Reform Act in Massachusetts
• Goal is to increase academic achievement for all students
• In order to meet goals, Mass Insight Education works in public outreach, works to strengthen schools, and works on policies effecting education.

Linda Neri
Communications Director
Mass Insight Education
18 Tremont Street, Suite 930
Boston, MA 02108
(617) 722-4160

Expert Contacts

Douglas Archbald, Ph.D.
University of Delaware
Office of Public Relations
150 South College Avenue
Newark, DE 19716
(301) 831-6408
Relevant area of expertise: testing and assessment

Loretta "Lorrie" Shepard
University of Colorado
Office of Public Relations
Campus Box 9
Boulder, CO 80309
(303) 492-8108
lorrie.shepard@Colorado.edu
Relevant area of expertise: Nationally recognized expert on K-12 standardized testing

Background

Board of Education Chairman, James A. Peyser said, "MCAS is about two inseparable things: accountability and improvement. For the first time, we are developing the capability to measure performance of our schools over time." (Pressley, Darrell S. "School and District 1999 MCAS Scores Released." Massachusetts Department of Education (December 8,1999) Retrieved from www.doe.mass.edu)

While critics of the MCAS claim it’s too narrow a tool to be used to determine who gets a diploma and who doesn’t, many young adults looking for work have been judged largely on test scores for years. Businesses rely on tests because they reached the conclusion that high school diplomas weren’t uniform in quality. (Hayward, Ed. "Beyond MCAS: Employers Have Their Own Testing" The Boston Herald (December 6, 1999)

In 1998, in all but one category MCAS scores for the city of Boston improved more than statewide scores improved. ("Editorial; Proof the Kids Can Learn" The Boston Herald (December 8, 1999)

Overall support for MCAS testing as a graduation requirement remains surprisingly strong, with 65% of public school parents and 70% of the public favoring high stakes for students. (Guenther, William H. "High Stakes and High Standards: Holding the Line on MCAS and Standards-Based Reform" Mass Insight Education (Retrieved from www.massinsight.com)

Daley, Beth & Vigue, Doreen Iudica. (December 8, 1999). "2 City Schools Shine on MCAS: Edwards and Mather Students’ Scores Up Significantly on Statewide Test" The Boston Globe.

Hart, Jordana. (December 8, 1999). "In Harvard, Success Follows Success for a Second Year, Town’s Schools are State’s Top Scorers" The Boston Globe.

Hayward, Ed. "MCAS Scores Point to Urban Troubles" The Boston Herald (December 8, 1999).

Natriello, Gary. (November 1998) "The Development and Impact of High Stakes Testing" Teachers College, Columbia University. Retrieved from www.columbia.edu

Phelps, Richard P. "Why Testing Experts Hate Testing- excerpts" Fordham Report (January 1999).

"Starting Now" Mass Insight Education (Fall 1999).