FRANKLIN — Franklin Middle School recently brought students, families, and educators together for its MCAS Alternative Assessment (MCAS-Alt) Portfolio Viewing Party, an event designed to celebrate student growth and create a meaningful opportunity for families and school staff to connect.
Students and their families recently gathered with teachers, service providers, and administrators in the school cafeteria to review student assessment portfolios and reflect on the progress students have made throughout the year.
The MCAS-Alt is one of the assessment options available to Massachusetts public school students and is designed for students with significant cognitive disabilities. Rather than a traditional test, the MCAS-Alt includes evidence of student learning collected over time, such as work samples, data charts, and a skills survey completed during classroom instruction.
As part of the MCAS-Alt process, schools invite families to review their child’s portfolio. At Franklin Middle School, that required step was intentionally framed as something more: an opportunity to welcome families into the school community, highlight student learning, and celebrate each child’s accomplishments alongside the educators and staff who support them every day.
This year, eight Franklin Middle School students completed the MCAS-Alt. During the event, families had the opportunity to view their child’s portfolio, talk with teachers and service providers, and recognize the growth reflected in the work students completed throughout the year.
“Franklin Middle School’s first official MCAS-Alt Portfolio Viewing Party was a wonderful opportunity to bring families, students, and staff together in celebration of student learning,” said Principal Craig Williams. “It was meaningful to see families spending time with educators, reviewing student work, and recognizing the progress each child has made.”
The event was organized with the support of Franklin Middle School Team Chairperson Lauren Erdmann and Administrator of Student Services Beckie Motte.
“We are so proud of the students’ hard work and achievements that are captured in the portfolio,” said Erdmann. “We were excited to provide a platform to honor and celebrate these achievements and to share them with their families, teachers, and school community.”
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