Requesting MCAS tests and items (Department Of Elementary And Secondary Education)

Dear Alec Resnick,
Thank you for your interest in public records of the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.  Your request has been received and is being processed.  Your request was received in this office on August 13, 2024 and given the reference number P004199-081324 for tracking purposes. To Whom It May Concern:

Pursuant to the Massachusetts Public Records Law, I hereby request the following records:

Copies of all MCAS tests and items administered since its inception in 1993, organized by subject, grade level, and date of administration, *including* whether those items were used as part of test or MCAS re-test/re-take.

This material is being request for an educational purpose, specifically the analysis and exploration of test composition over time as part of a high school's education mission.

The Public Records Law requires you to provide me with a written response within 10 business days. If you cannot comply with my request, you are statutorily required to provide an explanation in writing.

I also request that, if appropriate, fees be waived as we believe this request is in the public interest, as suggested but not stipulated by the recommendations of the Massachusetts Supervisor of Public Records. The requested documents will be made available to the general public free of charge as part of the public information service at MuckRock.com, and is not made for commercial usage.

I expect the request to be filled in an accessible format, including for screen readers, which provide text-to-speech for persons unable to read print. Files that are not accessible to screen readers include, for example, .pdf image files as well as physical documents.

In the event that there are fees, I would be grateful if you would inform me of the total charges in advance of fulfilling my request. I would prefer the request filled electronically, by e-mail attachment if available or CD-ROM if not.

Thank you in advance for your anticipated cooperation in this matter. I look forward to receiving your response to this request within 10 business days, as the statute requires.

Sincerely,

Alec Resnick

Upload documents directly: https://www.muckrock.com/
You can monitor the progress of your request at the link below and you'll receive an email when your request has been completed.

Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

--- Please respond above this line ---

Hi Alec,
The test questions that we have publicly released are available through this page: https://www.doe.mass.edu/mcas/testitems.html
The test questions that we have not released are being kept for future use and are covered under exemption L of the public records law: questions and answers, scoring keys and sheets and other materials used to develop, administer or score a test, examination or assessment instrument; provided, however, that such materials are intended to be used for another test, examination or assessment instrument. The purpose of Exemption (l) is to prevent individuals from gaining an unfair advantage by using the Public Records Law to access test questions and answers prior to the administration of an examination.
Best wishes,
Jackie Reis
jacqueline.reis@mass.gov

--- Please respond above this line ---

Hi Alec,
Please give me a call at when you get a chance. 781-605-4419
Thanks.
Jackie
jacqueline.reis@massgov