Assessment/Accountability MCAS
Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System

2010 MCAS/MEPA Bias and Sensitivity Committee Recruitment

This is a rewarding professional development opportunity for educators and a very important part of the development of the MCAS and MEPA tests. Please inform your faculty and colleagues of this opportunity.

Committee Members' Responsibilities

Bias and Sensitivity Committee members assist the Department in the review of MCAS and MEPA reading passages, test questions, and scoring rubrics. The Department strongly believes that all test materials should be free of bias and sensitivity issues, in order to ensure that all students are provided with the opportunity to perform their best on assessments of the Learning Standards in the Massachusetts curriculum frameworks.

Committee members will review all test questions prior to field-testing and make appropriate comments and suggestions for refinements. Committee members will also review MCAS ELA writing prompts for grades 4, 7, and 10 and make recommendations regarding their eligibility for use on MCAS tests. After items are field-tested, committee members will review item statistics that indicate how each item performed among specific subgroups of students.

Membership Structure and Number of Meeting Days

The Bias and Sensitivity Committee is composed of up to 15 members. Committee members will be selected on the basis of relevant experience and education, with the goal of assembling a committee with an appropriately broad representation. The membership term will begin in January 2010 and extend through December 2010. Committee members are required to attend all scheduled meetings, which run from 9:00 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. during the school year and summer. There will be approximately 6 days per year for MCAS review and 3-4 days per year for MEPA review in 2010 on a schedule to be determined. Upon selection, successful applicants will be sent a calendar of meetings and will be asked to confirm their commitment to attend.

Reimbursement for Expenses

Committee members are reimbursed for mileage, and lodging will be provided to members who live 55 or more miles away from the meeting site. In addition, committee members receive professional development points for their service. The Department will reimburse districts for actual substitute teacher costs up to $125 per day or will provide a small honorarium to committee members who are not otherwise compensated for their work. For summer meetings only, all committee members will be provided with a small honorarium and are not required to live more than 55 miles from the meeting site in order to be provided with lodging.

Application Procedure

Complete applications must include the following three components:

1. Completed application form with Superintendent's signed recommendation
2. Current résumé that includes experience, education, and professional development related to committee responsibilities

3. Statement of interest
   The statement (1-2 pages) should describe why the applicant wishes to serve on the Bias and Sensitivity Committee and what specific training, expertise, and experience will enable the applicant to make a positive contribution as a committee member. The statement should also include mention of the group(s) whom the applicant feels qualified to represent, along with rationale.

The deadline for receipt of applications is Friday, November 20, 2009. Notification will be sent by mid-December 2009. Please see the attached application for further instructions. If applicants have any questions, please call Sal Beatini, Assistant Director of Test Development, in the Office of Student Assessment Services at 781-338-3625.

  

Application