The first administration of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) took place in the spring of 1998. Results from these assessments were received by the District the first week of December. MCAS is a critical part of education reform in the state and is one of the most demanding assessments ever administered to our students. The results serve as a baseline by which to measure future improvement. The results are not a measure of the past. Now, more than ever students, parents, and schools will need to work together in partnership to improve student performance and prepare students for the 21^st century.

In Lunenburg all means ALL and 100% of the students enrolled in 8^th and 10^th grades participated in the assessment. Ninety-nine percent (99%) of the students in 4^th grade participated, and 1% were provided an alternate assessment. Overall, the performance of Lunenburg students on the MCAS was comparable to the average performance of students across the state. At grade 4 our strongest performance was in Science & Technology. Our strongest performance in grade 8 was in English Language Arts. At grade 10 our strongest performance was in English Language Arts and Science & Technology. Lunenburg students’ performance was weakest in grades 8 and 10 in Mathematics.

On the MCAS student performance is reported by level (Advanced, Proficient, Needs Improvement, and Failing). Students at the Advanced Level demonstrate a comprehensive and in-depth understanding of rigorous subject matter and provide sophisticated solutions to complex problems. Students at the Proficient Level demonstrate a solid understanding of challenging subject matter and solve a wide variety of problems. Students at the Needs Improvement Level demonstrate partial understanding of subject matter and solve some simple problems. Students at the Failing Level demonstrate minimal understanding of subject matter and do not solve even simple problems.

The percentage of Lunenburg students scoring at the highest performance level, Advanced, ranged from 0% to 7% across the three grades and three areas assessed. Seven percent (7%) of students in grade 8 and 6% of grade 4 students in Lunenburg performed at the Advanced level in Mathematics. Five percent (5%) of students in grade 8 and grade 10 in Lunenburg scored at the Advanced level in English Language Arts, and 5% of students in grade 4 scored at this level in Science & Technology.

In Lunenburg the number of students performing above the failing level ranged from 66% to 99%. Ninety-nine percent (99%) of grade 8 students performed above the failing level in English Language Arts, and 95% of grade 4 students were above failing in Science and Technology. Eighty-seven percent (87%) of grade 10 students performed above the failing level in English Language Arts and Science & Technology.

The percentage of Lunenburg students who performed at the top two levels of MCAS (Advanced or Proficient) ranged from 14% to 68% across the three grades and three areas assessed. Sixty-eight percent (68%) of Lunenburg grade 8 students and 55% of 10^th grade students were in these top two levels in English Language Arts. Fifty-one percent of grade 4 students performed in the Advanced or Proficient range in Science & Technology.

In the area of English Language Arts 14% of 4^th grade students, 68% of grade 8 students, and 55% of grade 10 students in Lunenburg scored at the proficient or advanced level. The following chart compares the performance of Lunenburg students with the statewide averages in the area of English Language Arts (ELA) at each grade level.

In Mathematics 29% of grade 4 students, 40% of grade 8 students, and 21% of grade 10 students in Lunenburg scored at the proficient or advanced level. The following chart compares the Mathematics performance of Lunenburg students with the statewide averages in at each grade level.

Lunenburg students performed above the state average at all grade levels in the Science & Technology area. Fifty-one percent (51%) of Lunenburg grade 4 students scored at the advanced or proficient level. Forty-three percent (43%) of students in grade 8 and 39% of grade 10 students scored in the top two levels. The following chart compares the performance of Lunenburg students with the statewide averages in the Science & Technology area at each grade level.

We now have additional data to guide our school improvement efforts. Since the passage of the Education Reform Act of 1993, the Lunenburg Public Schools have implemented a comprehensive, integrated set of local initiatives to improve our schools. These initiatives focused on curriculum, instruction, and assessment and include: (a) articulation of learning and performance standards based upon the State Curriculum Frameworks, (b) differentiated instruction in classrooms to address the needs of diverse learners, (c) development of problem-based assessments to measure student progress, and (d) the implementation of student-centered school improvement planning. Our process for improving student learning is data driven utilizing information from multiple sources including assessments such as MCAS and the Iowa Tests, community surveys, and a variety of other school statistics such as attendance, drop-out, and parent participation rates.

Lunenburg responded early to the State Curriculum Frameworks and during the last three years local curricula standards were written in three of the four areas currently measured on MCAS. These areas are Mathematics, Science and Technology, and English/Language Arts. The fourth area measured on the MCAS, History and Social Science, as well as Foreign Language which will be added to MCAS in the are being written this year to be presented for adoption in the spring of 1999. Future curricula work will be directed at using data to identify areas of curricula strength and vulnerabilities across the system and within schools.

In Lunenburg we will continue to restructure our schools to meet the needs of learners in the 21^st Century. The District will continue to integrate its curricular, instructional, and assessment work to provide a comprehensive program for all students.

By utilizing data from MCAS and other sources to inform our improvement efforts, we will keep focused on our mission, "To develop self-motivated well educated students through a learning environment that is exciting, challenging, and innovative." We invite all parents and the community to join to create positive futures for all our children.

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