Assessment/Accountability MCAS
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

Educational Proficiency Plans

The purpose of this memorandum is to provide information to assist you as you begin the implementation of the Educational Proficiency Plan (EPP) requirement, which was adopted as regulation by the Massachusetts Board of Education in October 2006. The change to the Competency Determination (CD) standard (603 CMR.31.00) was made to significantly increase the proportion of Massachusetts high school students who attain proficiency or higher on our tenth grade standards in English language arts and mathematics and graduate from high school college and career ready. The Department will provide more detailed guidance on EPPs in March and over the upcoming months as needed.

Requirements for Earning a Competency Determination

Students, starting with the graduating Class of 2010, must satisfy one of the following two conditions in both English language arts and mathematics to earn a competency determination:

1. meet or exceed the Proficient scaled score of 240 on the English Language Arts and Mathematics grade 10 MCAS tests, or

2. meet or exceed the Needs Improvement scaled score of 220 on the English Language Arts and Mathematics grade 10 MCAS tests and fulfill the requirements of an Educational Proficiency Plan.

Students, starting with the graduating Class of 2010 shall, in addition to meeting the requirements described above, attain a minimum of Needs Improvement (scaled score of 220) on one of the high school end-of-course science tests (Biology, Chemistry, Introductory Physics or Technology/Engineering) http://www.doe.mass.edu/lawsregs/603cmr30.html?section=all.

Educational Proficiency Plan Requirements

An EPP must be developed for the subject matter area(s) in English language arts and mathematics in which students did not meet or exceed a scaled score of 240.

At a minimum the EPP requires:

1. a review of the student's strengths and weaknesses, based on MCAS and other assessment results, coursework, grades, and teacher input;

2. identification of the courses the student will be required to take and successfully complete in grades 11 and 12; and

3. a description of the assessment(s) the school will administer on at least an annual basis to determine if the student is moving toward proficiency, or has become proficient on the grade 10 standards.

Early Student Identification

To begin the process of identifying students from the class of 2010 who may need an EPP, the following steps are recommended:

• review this year's 10th grade students' 9th and 10th grade coursework and grades;
• review the students' 7th/8th grade MCAS and other district administered assessments; and
• analyze the 10th grade MCAS preliminary information on multiple choice results, available in June, to develop the initial roster of students needing an EPP.

Resources for Planning the Implementation of Educational Proficiency Plans

In order to assist with the planning for the implementation of the new CD requirement for the class of 2010 and beyond, input was sought, starting in May 2007, from high school principals, guidance counselors, and vocational technical administrators in focus groups, and at several statewide conferences and regional meetings. This input has helped to inform the guidance described below to assist in the development of EPPs for students. This information can help students, parents, and the community understand the new Competency Determination standard and its implication, as well as to provide technical assistance to assist districts in establishing the infrastructure necessary to successfully implement the requirements of the EPP:

1. A Question and Answer document on the New Competency Determination Requirements and the Educational Proficiency Plan;

2. A link to a Power Point presentation at http://www.doe.mass.edu/hsreform/072607epp_mssaa.pps to help inform students, parents, teachers, administrators, and community members of this new requirement;

3. A chart of the MassCore Program of Studies    to assist you in planning the courses students are encouraged to take in grades 11 and 12. MassCore is a recommended high school program of study that was approved by the Board of Education in November 2007 (http://www.doe.mass.edu/news/news.asp?id=3805); and

4. In March, additional guidance will be provided on the assessment(s) that are to be used to determine whether a student is moving toward Proficient on MCAS (scaled score of 240) or its "equivalent," sample templates that may be used to create a student's Educational Proficiency Plan, and a schedule of regional forums on the EPP and MassCore that will take place in April.

Assessments to be Used for Evaluating EPP Students' Progress

The Department is working to identify a number of assessment options that can be used by school districts to evaluate the academic progress made by a student served by an Educational Proficiency Plan. One of the options for school year 2008-2009 will be locally developed

English language arts and Mathematics tests. Other options currently under consideration include MCAS tests designed specifically for the EPP, Accuplacer tests currently used by Massachusetts public colleges and universities for course placement, and the new Algebra II test, which Massachusetts has developed in conjunction with Achieve Inc., and a number of other states and is being field-tested this year. Guidance on these options will be provided this spring.

Additional Academic Support funding will be made available this spring to assist districts with a high percentage of students potentially requiring an EPP. These funds can be used to identify students, to develop and plan for the implementation of the EPP for the upcoming school year, and to help inform students and their families about the EPP. Districts are also encouraged to use Academic Support funds for ongoing interventions in support of students in meeting the new CD standard.

Relationship between MassCore and EPP

MassCore is one of several Department policy initiatives designed to help increase college-and career-readiness. While the completion of MassCore is highly recommended for all students, it is of particular importance for those students who do not score Proficient or Advanced on the grade 10 MCAS exams.

In the coming months, the Department will continue to solicit input from the field and provide guidance, resources, and technical assistance to implement the Educational Proficiency Plan requirement. I appreciate all of your efforts to assist more of our students to reach the state proficiency goal.

Please direct questions about Educational Proficiency Plans to Peg Helgaard at 781-338-3524 / mhelgaard@doe.mass.edu or Nyal Fuentes at 781-338-3593 /nfuentes@doe.mass.edu.

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