FYI from BSF, 09.30.22
As Goes Massachusetts...
A continued pause in accountability means the yesterday’s released 2022 MCAS results are truly just (hopefully, helpful) data for systems, schools, and educators this year.
Like any assessment, the MCAS comes with its caveats and limitations, but polls and surveys continually reveal families and caregivers value them, particularly post pandemic. Civil rights groups continue to support assessments, as one of the few tools that transparently disaggregate data by race and income status. A core element of Massachusetts education policy since 1993, the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education recently doubled down on assessment standards.
This year, however, the story in Massachusetts seems atypically typical, mirroring trends seen in other states and across the country.
Here are a few headlines.
Participation rates may vary.
Any trends cited including 2021 carry an asterisk given the low and spotty participation rates. 2022 saw a quick rebound. MCAS participation rates were much higher and gaps closed between subgroups, as in 10th grade ELA. Most participation rates in grades 3-8 are 99% across the board again.
This, notwithstanding…
There are literacy warning signs.
Foundational literacy skills are learned in kindergarten and first grade. The children who sat for the 3rd grade ELA MCAS last spring had those critical learning experiences interrupted.
Initial progress after the start of the Next Generation MCAS has quickly dissipated.
Essay portions of the MCAS administration also saw significant declines.
Math is sensitive.
The earliest data from interrupted schooling showed that math achievement had declined faster than literacy achievement. And, with 2022 MCAS results, it appears math can also rebound faster.
It is also clear from national data that rebounds are harder to come by the older the students are, perhaps explaining why declines are more persistent on the 10th grade MCAS.
Gaps were present, and gaps have grown.
The high school class of 2024 is unique: it is the first cohort that took the Next Generation MCAS all the way through from its inception in 2017.
There were clear gaps already in 5th grade. And those gaps had increased when they took the test as 10th graders last spring.
In ELA.
And in math.
What about Boston? Thanks to a homegrown ETL, we will have a comprehensive analysis of Boston MCAS performance out to everyone by Tuesday morning.
The data is only 19 hours old, but we began our review with a set of likely questions. What are trends over the past three years? Five? What is the impact of the pandemic, or the new standards set in place before? Where are there gaps or correlations to uncover? What are the bright spots?
We are going to spend a few weeks on this.
Further research questions are welcome.
Notes in the Margin
Superintendent Mary Skipper had at least two firsts this week: her first day officially on the job (at the Trotter on Monday) and the first Boston School Committee meeting of her tenure on Wednesday. Full materials here.
The meeting featured some more typical elements: Superintendent’s report, public comments, etc. Over $100M of votes were taken on federal funds/grants and the new collective bargaining agreement. The final phase of the Mission Hill K-8 Pilot investigation was also released. It chronicles failures by multiple central office personnel and departments, but with lawsuits pending and the redactions required, it is still unclear who will be held accountable and what will be different going forward (an audit was promised).
In October, we can expect an update on hiring in Boston schools. Why is hiring teachers so hard right now? The pipeline problem is a lot older than March, 2020.
Are we in the midst of a COVID disruption in schools? Without state reporting on school-based cases, there is no direct data. But the spike in cases among 10-19 year-olds and wastewater implies a lot of school is being missed, or about to be.
Other Matters
How did one Boston high school keep children engaged last year?
Martha’s Vineyard has its first Massachusetts teacher of the year: Danielle Charbonneau. Local coverage here.
