MCAS is a "tool of education reform rather than a measure of the success of education reform," she says. "It's as if they're trying to make the test do the work."

An Academic Yardstick

Supporters of the exam also see the test doing some of the work of education reform, but to them this is a merit, not a defect. They hope MCAS will spur changes in curriculum.

MCAS is designed to test students' knowledge of the subject matter in the state's "curriculum frameworks," a set of documents laying out broad areas which students should be familiar with by each grade level.

According to the fourth grade math frameworks, for instance, students should "demonstrate an understanding of the basic concepts of fractions, mixed numbers and decimals," and "apply fractions and decimals to problem situations."

The eighth grade history frameworks include a section titled "society, diversity, commonality and the individual," which says students are expected to "learn of the complex interplay that has existed from the beginning of our country between American ideals and American practice in the pursuit of realizing the goals of the Declaration of Independence for all people."

MCAS opponents say the test asks questions over too broad a range of subjects. The social studies exam especially receives heavy criticism.

Students are "being asked to cover a vast amount of material," says Jackie Dee King, a parent whose two children boycotted the written test last month.