CHICOPEE – Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum, Instruction and Accountability Matthew Francis presented the initial part of his state of the district presentation during a School Committee meeting on Nov. 17.

Francis’ presentation, which was the first part of a two-part analysis, focused on the differences in the district’s 2021 MCAS results. Due to disruptions from COVID-19, Francis said that 2021 MCAS tests were reduced to half its normal length for grades 3 through 8, with the district also implementing a longer testing window, from March to the end of the school year, in order to ensure maximum student participation. Grade 3 through 8 students also had an opportunity to test either in person or remotely, but grade 10 students were still required to test in-person.

Francis said the pandemic conditions have altered the district’s approach to analyzing MCAS data, with the Department of Elementary and Secondary Education (DESE) cautioning that comparisons across district and across schools within the same district aren’t as viable as years past. DESE also ensured that individual student performance varied more than usual as compared to previous years.

For grades 3 through 8, Chicopee paled in comparison to the state’s results. Twenty four percent of students did not meet expectations in the district compared to 16 percent in the state for the English Language Arts (ELA) test, according to Francis. In mathematics, 29 percent did not meet expectations compared to 22 percent for the state. Still, Francis believed that declines in Chicopee were comparable to what the state experienced. “The state saw a single digit decline in English and double digits in the math. It’s the same decline we saw in the district,” said Francis.

For Grade 10, Chicopee students performed closer in line to state averages. Only 12 percent of students did not meet ELA expectations compared to 9 percent for the state, while 17 percent of students did not meet mathematics expectations compared to 12 percent for the state. However, a few subgroups performed right in line with state averages. Economically disadvantaged, high needs and Hispanic students were within a percentage point of the averages.

Ward 2 School Committee member David Barsalou asked Francis how he felt student performance was considering the pandemic conditions. In response, Francis highlighted certain grades that performed better than expectations, including grade four students who were taking their first MCAS post-pandemic disruptions. Still, students across the district experienced difficulties with the complex circumstances.

“There was an uphill battle. They did the best that they could, now it’s what do we do with this information moving forward,” said Francis. The assistant superintendent believes it will take time to further close the gap between the district and the state’s results but shared he’s optimism that growth will continue over the next few years.

Francis will present part two of his state of the district report during the School Committee’s Dec. 1 meeting.