The Massachusetts Department of Education requires that students achieve competency determination on the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System, or MCAS, in order to be eligible to receive a high school diploma.

Students must achieve a passing score of 220 on the MCAS Mathematics, English Language Arts, and Science and Technology Tests to be eligible for a Massachusetts high school diploma. However, students who score less than 240 in Mathematics or English Language Arts must participate in an Educational Proficiency Plan, which requires that the student continue to take courses in the deficient subject area until he or she reaches a 240 MCAS score or its equivalent.

The MCAS Testing Schedule for the 2009-2010 school year is as follows:

• November 4-6, 9-10 -- MCAS Retest (primarily for juniors and seniors who have not yet achieved competency)
• February 1-2 -- MCAS Biology (for freshmen who have taken Biology during first semester and sophomores who have not yet achieved competency)
• March 1-5 -- MCAS Retest (primarily for juniors and seniors who have not yet achieved competency)
• March 23-25 -- MCAS English Language Arts (all sophomores)
• May 17-18 -- MCAS Mathematics (all sophomores)
• June 2-3 -- MCAS Science and Technology (freshmen and sophomores who have not yet passed the Science and Technology MCAS)

For further information about MCAS, please visit the Massachusetts Department of Education.