For nearly two decades, schools across Massachusetts have been on a quest to get as many students as possible to score proficient or advanced on the state MCAS exams.
But now, state education officials are planning to rename the scoring categories on the revamped version of the MCAS exams, using monikers that educators view as less judgmental.
Under the proposal, the “advanced’’ category, which has sometimes been derided as sounding too elitist, will be renamed “exceeding expectations.’’ “Proficient’’ will be known as “meeting expectations’’; “needs improvement’’ will become “partially meeting expectations’’; and the “warning/failing’’ category, which can be crushing to a student’s self-esteem, will be “not meeting expectations.’’
The state Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will vote on the name changes at its monthly board meeting Tuesday.
The switch is intended to give parents, students, and teachers a better understanding of whether students are ready for “academic activities at the next level’’ and reflects a desire to use positive and motivating language, said Mitchell Chester, commissioner of elementary and secondary education, in a memorandum to the board.
The change would take effect for grades 3 through 8 next month, when the state launches the revamped MCAS for those students. The high school MCAS exams would retain the old category names because those tests have not been overhauled yet.
Below is the proposed definition for each scoring category:
Exceeding expectations — A student exceeded grade-level academic expectations and is well prepared in this subject.
Meeting expectations — A student met grade-level academic expectations and is prepared in this subject.
Partially meeting expectations — A student partially met grade-level academic expectations. The school and parent/guardian may wish to evaluate the need for academic assistance for this student.
Not meeting expectations — A student did not meet grade-level academic expectations. The school and parent/guardian should evaluate the need for academic assistance for this student.
James Vaznis can be reached at james.vaznis@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globevaznis.
