Thousands of high school juniors who passed the latest MCAS exam may face yet another round of state-required testing before they can earn their diplomas next year.
Thanks to a new state requirement, students who received a "needs improvement" rating on the math and English language arts MCAS tests must complete an educational proficiency plan, or EPP, issued by their schools before they can graduate with their class.
"Not a lot of people know about this, and we're trying to get up to speed," said Principal Mike Welch of Framingham High School.
He noted an "overwhelming majority of kids" don't know about the new measure.
Passing the MCAS English and math exams are already graduation requirements for the state's high-schoolers.
But while students can pass the tests with a "needs improvement" rating in math and English, those with that score now must improve their academic performance through an individual educational proficiency plan overseen by local high schools.
Based on MCAS scores from the state's K-12 education agency, about 15,200 juniors will need these new plans for English, while 14,000 kids will need them for math.
According to local school officials, plotting how to bolster students' math or English performances will stem from meetings with guidance counselors, plus input from teachers and parents, to help determine which classes they will need to successfully complete to show academic proficiency and graduate on time.
Schools have choices on measuring that proficiency: They can use final exams, a local version of the relevant 10th-grade MCAS test, the College Board's Accuplacer test or an Algebra II test being created by Pearson Education. The 10th-grade MCAS test would be compiled by the state but individual schools would have to grade their students, creating more work for the districts.
Those with a "needs improvement" score won't be able to retake the state-issued MCAS exam in order to graduate. The requirement does not apply to scores on the MCAS science test.
The measure was approved by the state's education board in October 2006. Students who earned a warning or failing MCAS score were already required to complete a plan to improve their grades.
"This is by no means a punitive (measure)," said J.C. Considine, spokesman for the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.
Considine said the department has held training sessions with educators across the state, and will continue them this fall. He said it is up to school leaders to keep students and families aware of the new requirement.
Framingham High's Welch said the requirement could impact students' class choices. For example, the school now requires students to finish three years of math classes. With an EPP to follow, students may have to complete an extra math class to graduate he said.
At Framingham, about 94 students will need improvement plans for English and 83 will need them for math courses, according to state records.
Welch predicted the state will have to impose a single standardized test to determine whether high-schoolers will graduate, similar to the role played by the MCAS exam.
"We're all just trying to scramble to figure out what this means," said Welch.
At Milford High School, Principal John Brucato said overseeing these education plans could be costly to the schools, as they may have to boost the numbers of math and English classes - and possibly staffing - to meet the demand, he said. Brucato will meet with faculty on Oct. 7 to discuss how the EPPs will be implemented at Milford High, he said.
"The problem is you'll get a mandate, but with it, you don't have an accompanying support structure," said Brucato.
In Milford, 43 students rated "needs improvement" on the English exam, while 37 students had the same score in math.
Although the requirement was approved by the state nearly two years ago, with economic changes and changes in state education leadership, some officials were uncertain whether they would need to go forward with it, he said.
The EPP effort was imposed as schools administered the first year of a science MCAS exam as a graduation requirement that made the transition harder, he said.
Milford's Albert Mercado, the school guidance, career and academic enhancement supervisor, said the district will post more information about the EPP requirement on the district Web site.
Not all districts are facing a tough transition. Waltham High School's principal, John Graceffa, said the school made changes last year to accommodate the education plans.
Using MCAS scores from spring 2007, Waltham juniors who rated "needs improvement" on the exam were enrolled in classes that would meet the requirements of the education plans.
This allowed officials to adjust the program locally before it became a state requirement, he said. This year, 62 students need education plans for English and 71 kids will need them for math in Waltham.
"This is something I encouraged so we could get ready," said Graceffa.
(John Hilliard can be reached at 508-626-4449 or John.Hilliard @cnc.com.
