New MCAS expectations discussed at ‘State of the Schools’ address – Western Massachusetts News

SPRINGFIELD, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) – The Springfield Superintendent of Schools Dr. Sonia Dinnall delivered the State of the Schools Address on Friday. The theme of the event appeared to be to build a road map for each school to follow to help improve student performance. With MCAS scores no longer being a graduation requirement, a big part of the discussion was on what’s next.

“Our students are still below benchmark, so we noticed that right in here, as far as our wonder, what are our barriers as far as closing the gap for those below benchmark students, so those are our notice and our wonder,” an educator stated.

Cedar’s Banquet Hall on Island Pond Road in Springfield was filled with school district leaders, educators, and community stakeholders on Friday, all there to discuss the future of education in Springfield. Now that MCAS is no longer a graduation requirement, a hot topic was what’s next. Dr. Dinnall said students will still be taking the test.

“Districts are still held accountable to the same standards of participation for the MCAS grades 3 through 10, absolutely,” she emphasized. “Now, we have a community of supporters who will help us figure out what’s that going to look like for Springfield.”

She added that they do have some guidance from the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

“So, any student that has yet to pass the MCAS, we cannot use that as something we can use, we have to look at course work primarily, but they are encouraging us to look at other things as well.”

Dr. Dinall assured us that despite the MCAS no longer being a graduation requirement, the standard remains because those are the skills students need to be successful, so that when they graduate, they are equipped with skills needed to open doors.

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