The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved modifications to competency requirements for next year’s graduating class. DESE officials unanimously voted to approve a proposal that would not require juniors, the Class of 2022, to take and pass MCAS exams to graduate. The state previously modified the requirements for the classes of 2020 and 2021 — allowing seniors to demonstrate competency in other ways, such as course credit in math and English. The board also discussed how to administer this year’s MCAS. Current juniors and seniors may still take the test this spring to qualify for the Adams Scholarship and Koplik Certificate of Mastery, officials said. Juniors who do not participate this spring will be able to test for scholarships during the retest period in fall 2021.In addition, the DESE will offer remote administration of the ELA, mathematics and science assessments this spring for grades 3 through 8 to accommodate families who chose to have their children learn remotely through the end of the school year. Under federal law, states are required to test students annually in math and English in grades 3 through 8 and in one grade level in high school. Additionally, testing in science is required once in elementary, middle and high school.
The Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has approved modifications to competency requirements for next year’s graduating class.
DESE officials unanimously voted to approve a proposal that would not require juniors, the Class of 2022, to take and pass MCAS exams to graduate.
The state previously modified the requirements for the classes of 2020 and 2021 — allowing seniors to demonstrate competency in other ways, such as course credit in math and English.
The board also discussed how to administer this year’s MCAS.
Current juniors and seniors may still take the test this spring to qualify for the Adams Scholarship and Koplik Certificate of Mastery, officials said. Juniors who do not participate this spring will be able to test for scholarships during the retest period in fall 2021.
In addition, the DESE will offer remote administration of the ELA, mathematics and science assessments this spring for grades 3 through 8 to accommodate families who chose to have their children learn remotely through the end of the school year.
Under federal law, states are required to test students annually in math and English in grades 3 through 8 and in one grade level in high school. Additionally, testing in science is required once in elementary, middle and high school.
