Burlington Tries To Reassure Parents After MCAS Test Results Release

BURLINGTON, MA -- Burlington Public Schools officials responded to this week's release of state standardized test scores by sending a letter to parents, assuring them that students "are continuing to make academic progress and social emotional growth." The letter said the scores would be discussed at the next School Committee meeting on Tuesday, October 24.

Less than half of Burlington Public School students in grades 4-8 met or exceeded expectations on the English language arts MCAS tests administered last spring, according to test results released by the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Wednesday. Additionally, Burlington 4th and 7th graders scored lower than state averages in mathematics on the next generation MCAS test.

Overall, 41% of Burlington students in grades 3-8 met or exceeded expectations in English language arts, below the state average of 49%. In mathematics, 50% of students met or exceeded state expectations, above the state average of 48%.

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"Despite some of the headlines from the media surrounding the 2017 MCAS scores, we want to assure families that our students are continuing to make academic progress and social emotional growth. The MCAS scores are just one measure of a student," Assistant Superintendent for Learning Patrick Larkin wrote. The letter included an excerpt from a statement by Massachusetts Acting Commissioner of Education Jeff Wulfson that was released with the scores on Wednesday.

Students in grades 3-8 took the so-called "next generation" of the test, which made it difficult to compare scores to previous years or benchmark a school district against similar districts. "2017 is the baseline year - the first year of a new assessment - and we expect that over time, more students will score Meeting Expectations or above," Wulfson wrote. If students scores appeared lower than in previous years, it "NOT mean that students learned less; it reflects the fact that the next- generation MCAS measures more rigorous standards in a different way."

According to the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education, MCAS results are used to direct improvements in teaching and learning, assess school and district accountability and measure student accountability.

The bright spot on the test results was the performance of Burlington third graders. In math, 61% of third graders met or exceeded expectations. In reading, 55% of Burlington third graders met or exceeded expectations. The complete results are available on the Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education Website.

Chart by Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

Dave Copeland can be reached at dave.copeland@patch.com or by calling 617-433-7851. Follow him on Twitter (@CopeWrites) and Facebook (/copewrites).