CHELMSFORD, MA, May 30, 2000—School officials across Massachusetts are analyzing the results of the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) standardized tests using a solution based on Cognos^® business intelligence software. Cognos (NASDAQ:COGN; TSE:CSN), the world’s largest and most successful business intelligence company, teamed with the Merrimack Educational Center (MEC), Chelmsford, Mass. to offer a complete MCAS analysis service to school officials.

By utilizing the system, school officials can:

• predict which students may have difficulty with the test in the future and intervene at an early stage to assist the student,

• identify specific interventions, and

• upgrade curriculums and teaching methodologies for better future results.

"Business intelligence traditionally is used by large organizations to aid in decision-making. This is the first time such sophisticated software has been utilized by school officials to analyze standardized testing results in the public sector. The Cognos solution provides an easy-to-understand, yet highly detailed analysis of the MCAS results in each school district," said Dr. John B. Barranco, executive director of the Merrimack Education Center and a former school superintendent.

"Although MCAS purports to uncover student weaknesses, it really shows us where curriculum and teaching need improvement. Being able to analyze the test data now allows school officials to make adjustments to their curriculum early enough to make a difference in the results for next year. This should help schools greatly improve their results next year as well as getting our students the best education possible."

"The MCAS tests have been at the top of the priority list since they were first implemented last year," said James (Jim) McCormick, superintendent of schools, North Middlesex Regional School District (Townsend, Pepperell and Ashby, Mass.). "I want my teachers to teach and my principals to manage, not spend their time trying to figure out what test scores mean. Cognos and MEC are providing us with the means to professionally assess the MCAS results. We’re able to take that information back to the schools and implement a targeted action plan to improve the overall quality of education."

How it works:
School superintendents from more than 100 school districts have already signed on with MEC to analyze this year’s MCAS test results. A pilot system using last year’s data allowed a special consortium of school administrators the ability to identify factors they wish to analyze. When the schools receive their data, they forward it on to MEC who processes the data to create a data "cube." (A data cube is the technical term for the format that makes complex multidimensional analysis possible.)

Demographic information can also be added, allowing analysis based on per capita income, class size or gender. The users are able to query the data cube either over the Web or on a system set up right in the school.

Users then compare and contrast the test results from different schools within the district, in different classes and on different subject matters. Officials can even look at the tests on a question-by-question basis, identifying which areas pose problems to their students. Officials can identify specific students who may need remedial help before next year’s tests or simply where gaps need to be addressed in their curriculum.

In addition to the software system, the schools also have access to the MEC Consortium for help desk services, educational guidance and best practices resulting from the use of the system.

Schools Using the MEC/Cognos solution to analyze 1999 MCAS data:
Massachusetts school districts who have already signed up for the service include: Acton-Boxborough, Andover, Ashurnham-Westminister, Auburn, Ayer, Bedford, Beverly, Billerica, Bridgewater-Raynham, Burlington, Chelmsford, Dartmouth, Greater Lowell, Fairhaven, Fall River, Fitchburg, Gardner, Grafton, Groton-Dunstable, Lawrence, Lawrence Charter, Leominster, Littleton, Lunenburg, Montachusett Vocational, Nashoba Tech, Newburyport, North Middlesex, Peabody, Reading, Shirley, Somerset, Sutton, Taunton, Tewksbury, Tyngsborough, Wachusett, Westford, Wilmington, and Winchendon. More schools are being added to the list every day.

MEC
The Merrimack Education Center’s mission is to create, adapt and apply educational and technological resources to educational needs locally, regionally and nationally through linkages between and amongst industry, government and local agencies. MEC grew out of a need on the part of school superintendents and the Department of Education to examine and model regional collaboration in order to provide cost effective services to schools based upon local issues and concerns. MEC currently provides educational solutions to three-quarters of Massachusetts school districts and acts as an educational broker linking the school districts with local, state and national resources. For more information, refer to http://www.mec.edu.