MeCAS Online Science Pilot
Published:January 14, 2013
The following message is being sent on behalf of Susan Fossett, MEA Coordinator at the Maine Department of Education. Please direct any question to Susan Fossett by email at susan.fossett@maine.gov or by phone at (207)624-6775.
Thank you
The MLTI Team
The Maine Department of Education is pleased to offer schools an opportunity to participate in the online delivery of the MeCAS Science Grade 8 Assessment in May 2013. This initiative includes a pilot assessment in February/March of 2013 (February 25, 2013 - March 15, 2013) and the operational assessment in May 2013. The goal of the pilot assessment is to confirm a school’s capability to deliver an online assessment both in terms of technological infrastructure and administrative capacity. Therefore, no scores from student work in this pilot assessment will be returned. ONLY those schools who participate in the February/March 2013 pilot will be eligible to participate in paperless testing for the MeCAS Science Grade 8 in May 2013. Schools must express interest by January 22, 2013.
This opportunity is particularly important to schools because it prepares schools for the shift to full online administration of the MeCAS at grade 8 in 2013-2014. The state also anticipates full online administration of the MHSA at grade 11 in 2014-2015. As the state transitions to online Smarter Balanced testing in English language arts and mathematics in 2014-2015 this provides yet another opportunity for schools to ensure their ability to deliver online assessment.
Schools interested in participating in the MeCAS Online Science Pilot - Grade 8 should contact Susan Fossett, MEA Coordinator by email at susan.fossett@maine.gov or by phone at (207)624-6775 by January 22, 2013.
Schools can download a pilot requirement checklist, and best practices for computer-based testing here.