NO DATA TO SUPPORT VALIDITY OF MA MCAS TEST. WORKING ON IT
\doc\web\99\07\mcas.txt


From:           	ZorroFRR@aol.com
Date sent:      	Tue, 4 May 1999 23:46:44 EDT
Subject:        	Fwd: MCAS...No data to support validity of test???????????
To:             	jimmyK5@swbell.net, fredb001@dreamscape.com, arthurhu@halcyon.com,
       	eca@fastlane.net, krisrice@gci.net, Madknd5@aol.com,
       	Libertytre@aol.com


MA, NH, VT all have contracts with Advanced Systems in Dover NH for "scoring" 
of assessments. All anyone has to do is request the fiscal contracts. Vt and 
RI of course are the two states using the New Standards Reference Exams 
(title of which which keeps changing in name) aka New Standards Project 
(NSP). The NSP is co-chaired by Resnick and Mark Tucker of the National 
Center for Education and the Economy.


Advanced Systems created a lot of problems for KY with serious "scoring" 
mistakes and was dumped by KY. Vt. used Advanced Systems years ago under 
Richard Mills in the early 90's, switched....and now is back with Advanced 
Systems....




From:           	Madknd5@aol.com
Date sent:      	Tue, 4 May 1999 19:14:17 EDT
Subject:        	MCAS...No data to support validity of test???????????
To:             	ZorroFRR@aol.com


Fran,
....No data to support its validity????   I'm shocked!
--------


May 3, 1999
From: The Commonwealth of Massachusetts, The Department of Education


Dear Ms. Rubin:


 I am responding on behalf of Dr. Abigail Thernstrom and Commissioner David
Driscoll to your requests for public records dated April 20, 1999 and
received on April 22, 1999. You request "all documents, studies, data, etc.,
which address the validity reliability and overall effectiveness of the use
of the MCAS testing."
 The Department has no such studies or reports, and therefore no public
records, to provide in response to your request. The Department is, however,
in the process of drafting a technical report that will address both the
validity and the reliability of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment
System ("MCAS"). We anticipate that this report will be available early this
fall and will forward a courtesy copy to you at that time.
 Please contact me if you have any questions regarding the Department's
response on behalf of Dr. Thernstrom and Commissioner Driscoll.
Additionally, please be advised that if you wish to challenge this response,
you may appeal to the supervisor of Public Records following the procedure
in 950 CMR Section 32.08.
 Very truly yours, Kristin E. McIntosh, Legal Counsel
 C: Dr. Abigail Thernstrom
 Commissioner David Driscoll