Committee apprised of coming changes

The Mendon-Upton Regional School Committee heard at its meeting last week an update on two state issues that could have implications for the district: a change to the definition of "low-income" students and continued questions over the new PARCC test.

Superintendent Joseph Maruszczak said at the meeting that the state will be changing the definition of "low-income" students in a way that would reduce that population in the district. Previously, he said, the criterion governing the label was based on the receipt of free or reduced-cost lunch, while the new one would be participation in community-based programs.

"We finished the school year with 273 students, or 11.6 percent of our population, receiving free or reduced lunch," he said. "Under the new definition, that's down to 7.6 percent, or 178 students."

It is a significant change, Maruszczak said, because several state-based metrics - like testing accountability and Chapter 70 funding - are partially based on the number of low-income students in the district.

"There are a whole bunch of implications," he said. "The state has rolled out the definition, but they haven't rolled out yet how that will change certain things.

"It's something that definitely bears watching," he added.

Committee Chairman Philip De Zutter asked if there is indeed an impact to the move, when it would be felt. Maruszczak said that would not occur until fiscal year 2017.

Maruszczak also noted that there remained questions as to whether the state would adopt the PARCC assessment test.

"The Board of Education is slated to make a decision in October as to whether the state will stay with MCAS, go with a new MCAS aligned with the Common Core (Curriculum) or use the PARCC test," he said. "I've been told not to be surprised if that spills into November."

Maruszczak said he had learned that the PARCC test had moved from two testing periods - one in March and another in May - to just one.

"That's a definite step in the right direction," he said.

Maruszczak noted that the assessment for high school students will remain the MCAS through 2018.

"We're really talking about what test we'll be administering to grades three through eight," he said.

Mike Gleason can be reached at 508-634-7546 or mgleason@wickedlocal.com. For news throughout the day, follow him on Twitter @MGleason_MDN.