MCAS

Bloviating on school testing

adamg — Fri, 23 Jul 2010 00:20:34 +0000

Marjorie Arons-Barron surveys statements by politicians, coverage by the local media, concludes everybody's yelling about yelling when it comes to the idea of replacing our MCAS with national tests for English and math, without really explaining what the specific fuss is about.

State looks at scrapping MCAS English and math tests in favor of new multi-state tests

adamg — Thu, 20 May 2010 12:08:15 +0000

The Globe gets ahold of some memos.

MCAS scores: Ugh

adamg — Thu, 17 Sep 2009 12:41:34 +0000

More than half of Mass. schools not doing so hot, Globe reports.

The Eliot School in the North End, though, bucked the trend, moving from "restructuring" to "good standing,", one of only three schools in the entire state to move up like that.

MCAS and the Drop-out Crisis

presspass — Sat, 05 Sep 2009 02:06:15 +0000

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ynk29_HDzHU&feature=channel_page

Remind us why we have MCAS again?

adamg — Wed, 16 Apr 2008 13:53:29 +0000

The Globe reports:

Thousands of Massachusetts public high school graduates arrive at college unprepared for even the most basic math and English classes, forcing them to take remedial courses that discourage many from staying in school, according to a statewide study released yesterday.

Read the report yourself.

Roslindale principal develops novel MCAS study technique

adamg — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 12:47:33 +0000

Sorta old news, but I was reminded of it this morning because the kidlet's taking Yet Another MCAS Test: The principal of the Washington Irving Middle School is under investigation for allegedly giving teachers parts of the test the day before so they could help their students get better scores.

Silver lining: It might take people's minds off the school's weekly appearances in the Roslindale Transcript's police blotter.

No MCASitis in her house

adamg — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 19:16:37 +0000

Jennifer Lord reports that she went downstairs this morning, her fifth-grade son was already there, eating cereal and watching Matsuzaka struggle as he got ready for a day of MCAS exams:

... [T]hese were his parting words this morning when I wished him luck.

"Don't worry mom," David said. "I'm more Big Papi than Dice-K on MCAS."

MCASitis

adamg — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 14:06:17 +0000

Dr. Gwenn discusses an ailment peculiar to Massachusetts schoolchildren:

Yesterday I saw a young girl in my office who had very bad tummy aches. ... So, I checked her out head to toe and did a Strep test. Still, nothing. Her exam was normal - in fact, the tummy exam yielded giggles and I discovered she is quite the hopper and very adept and climbing on and off a tricky to climb exam table! And, office her Strep test was negative. Very reassuring all around.

Chatting with this young, pleasant child and her mom I learned she's in third grade in a town near mine and facing the dreaded MCAS testing today ...

MCAS opponents just weak and fearful?

adamg — Sat, 09 Jun 2007 14:32:46 +0000

Only in Boston makes the argument.

MCAS test stolen

adamg — Fri, 28 Apr 2006 14:44:24 +0000

The Lawrence Eagle-Tribune reports: somebody stole a copy of the MCAS English test in Haverhill.

Via Elephant Picnic, who wonders when the Boston papers will stop their Harvard-internalizer coverage and pick up this story:

Granted, I was interested in [the Harvard story] a couple of days ago. Now it's gone well beyond another example of the media beating a dead horse at the expense of news that actually directly impacts state tax payers and the education of their kids.