June 2013 Release of Preliminary Results

As many of you already know, preliminary MCAS results were made available to authorized users in DropBox Central (in the security portal) on Tuesday. This release includes full preliminary ELA results and preliminary multiple-choice results for grades 3–8 and 10 Math and grades 5 and 8 Science.

There is an interpretive guide to accompany this release (currently available in DropBox Central, to be posted to the 2013 MCAS Web page shortly) which provides information about various ways that the preliminary data (along with the 2013 released items) can be reviewed and utilized. The raw-to-scaled score conversion tables for ELA have also been posted.

In addition, the latest Student Assessment Update notes that preliminary MCAS-Alt results have been made available through DropBox Central, and ELA long compositions are posted online at www.mcasservicecenter.com.

On Friday, June 21, the same preliminary results will be made available through selected reports in Edwin Analytics.

Per the Interpretive Guide: "All data released prior to the official release of school and district results in mid-September are embargoed, which means the data cannot be released to the public or discussed in public meetings.... Preliminary MCAS data, including the Mathematics and STE multiple-choice results, can and should be used for educational planning purposes. Whenever preliminary results are printed for planning purposes, they should be clearly dated and labeled “preliminary,” with the understanding that some results may change with the official release in September."

As a reminder, I will be offering three regional Edwin Analytics workshops in August after the remainder of the preliminary data has been released, but in the meantime, please do not hesitate to contact me with questions.

Release of Spring 2013 MCAS Items

The Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education has posted the released items for the Spring 2013 tests by grade and content area at: http://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/2013/release/default.html.

Reminder: New ESE Security Portal URL

With the preliminary MCAS results being released on Tuesday (see earlier post for more details, along with the Student Assessment Services update sent out via email today), there’s a good chance you’ll want to log into the ESE Security Portal in the very near future to access Dropboxes or Edwin Analytics.

If you haven’t logged into the Security Portal in a while, you will notice some changes. Earlier in June, ESE installed a new “Identity Management System (IMS)” in order to align the Security Portal with the Commonwealth’s new secure access standards. Existing username and passwords will continue to work with the new Identity Management System and there is no need to change either credential, BUT the URL has changed.

New Security Portal URL: https://gateway.edu.state.ma.us/

If you're trying to access Edwin Analytics, you should click the first "Edwin Analytics" link on your portal home page after logging in to the URL above to get the latest version of Edwin Analytics. The second link that says "Edwin Analytics (EDW)" is the old version.

You should change any bookmarks you may have to the new URL. (Note that the "Security Portal" link in the drop-down menu on the ESE home page has been updated to this new URL, so if you normally access the portal this way you'll go to the right spot.) If you notice that you're being asked to log in twice, you may be accessing the portal through an incorrect URL. If you have any questions regarding your access, please contact your district’s Directory Administrator.

Summer Edwin Analytics Workshops

I will be offering the "Getting to Know Edwin Analytics" workshop several times in mid-late August (with the expectation that the preliminary MCAS data will be available at that time). There is no cost for these workshops; although priority registration will be given to individuals from Level 3 districts we anticipate to be able to accommodate all who would like to attend.

The workshop will provide a structured environment in which to explore data using the pre-defined reports in Edwin Analytics (formerly the Education Data Warehouse), including the Growth Model reports and classroom-level reports. This workshop is appropriate to new users but can serve as an update for previous users of the Education Data Warehouse. Participants will access their own district or school's data, and will have time to run and save reports for use in planning for the 2013-2014 school year.

All attendees must be assigned appropriate Security Portal access to Edwin Analytics by their district's Director Administrator prior to the workshop. Please register directly with the collaborative through whom the workshop is offered (it is not necessary that your district be a member of the collaborative to attend.)

8/15/13 - Bourne High School
8:30-11:30 am OR 12:15-3:15 pm
Please register through the Cape Cod Collaborative

8/20/13 - Whitman Hanson Regional High School
8:30-11:30 am OR 12:15-3:15 pm
Please register through the North River Collaborative
(info is not yet posted but will be in the next week or so)

8/22/13 - READS Collaborative, Middleborough
8:30-11:30 am OR 12:15-3:15 pm
Please register through the READS Collaborative

Edwin Teaching and Learning Pilot Update

The Edwin Teaching and Learning Group at ESE have published an update on the ET&L pilot project, including information about current and future pilot opportunities (for RTTT districts), content updates, and online resources.

The update document can be found under "News and Updates" on the Edwin page on the ESE site.

http://www.doe.mass.edu/edwin/