The language is unambiguous. The Department of Education claims that by providing students with several opportunities to retake the tests, the requirement for a system of assessments is being met. The fact remains only one type of assessment is being used. Secondly, nationally recognized testing experts who have studied the issues of standards and high stakes testing agree that a single instrument should never be used to make high stakes decisions. The reason is simple.
Many variables can impact performance.
As such, the results of a single test cannot be assumed to measure with certainty a child's knowledge or comprehension. If high stakes decisions are being made, other measures must be used to corroborate the results of the test. Denial of a high school diploma is a decision with drastic consequences and cannot rest on the outcome of a single test. Instead, any statewide test should be part of graduation requirements that include local requirements that allow students varied opportunities to demonstrate their attainment of the statewide standards. MCAS is a flawed instrument .