Bill > H363

This bill proposes to amend existing law regarding students with severe disabilities and their participation in the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS), a statewide standardized test. Specifically, it introduces a provision that allows students with severe disabilities who cannot take the standard written MCAS assessment and instead participate in the MCAS alternate assessment (MCAS alt assessment) to have their MCAS portfolios, which are collections of student work demonstrating mastery of skills, be based on their individual education plan's (IEP) goals and objectives. An IEP is a legally binding document that outlines a student's specific educational needs and the services they will receive. This change means these students' progress will be measured against their personalized learning targets rather than the general MCAS standards, providing a more appropriate and individualized evaluation of their academic achievements.