Massachusetts’ Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS-Alt) Results

We recently received our results for the Massachusetts’ Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS-Alt) from the Department of Education for last year.

A total of 65 NECC students participated in the MCAS-Alt through 92 data-based portfolio submissions documenting their accuracy and independence in academic work that, although at an entry level, addressed the Curriculum Frameworks of the General Curriculum.

As shown in the figure, each year NECC has exceeded state averages in the percentage of portfolios given the highest score, Progressing Performance Level, based on demonstrated student independence and accuracy on entry skills. This year each and every student evaluated in every curriculum area assessed received a Progressing performance level. That means that for our students, who all perform below grade level, 100% received the highest score possible in English Language Arts (Reading), Mathematics, and Science, Technology/Engineering. These scores put The New England Center for Children in the top 1% of all schools in the state in terms of our MCAS-Alt scores.

Dan Weiner, the Massachusetts Assessment Coordinator for Students with Disabilities, recently wrote “Each year, the portfolio scores of students at NECC have exceeded the state average. This year all student portfolios from NECC scored at the Progressing level, the highest attainable score for a student working on the general curriculum, but below grade-level expectations. This places New England Center for Children in the top 1% of all schools in the state, in terms of their MCAS-Alt scores at this highest level. I have come to value the commitment, effort, insightful analysis, and attention by the NECC staff to document the instructional progress of each student.” To read more, click here (will launch an Adobe PDF document).