RICAS Math Practice

About the RICAS

Rhode Island adopted the Rhode Island Comprehensive Assessment System (RICAS) in 2017 after replacing PARCC, and the math test is closely modeled on the Massachusetts MCAS framework: Rhode Island uses the same item structure, the same four-level performance descriptors (Not Meeting / Partially Meeting / Meeting / Exceeding Expectations), and a comparable computer-delivered platform. The Rhode Island Department of Education (RIDE) contracts with Cognia, the same vendor that supports MCAS, which lets the two states share much of the underlying assessment infrastructure while preserving Rhode Island's independent reporting and accountability.

The RICAS math test is administered in grades 3 through 8 each spring, typically across two sessions per grade. Items include multiple-choice, short-answer, constructed-response, and technology-enhanced equation-entry and drag-and-drop tasks. RIDE provides a state reference sheet for grades 5 through 8 and an embedded calculator on the calculator-permitted portion in grades 6-8. Rhode Island publishes results on the public RIDE Data Center and sends an Individual Student Report to families. Reports give scale score, achievement level, and breakdowns by reporting category aligned to the Common Core domains.

Rhode Island uses RICAS results for federal ESSA accountability and for RIDE's school star ratings, but RICAS is not a graduation requirement at any grade level and there is no statewide retention rule for grades 3-8. Rhode Island families occasionally see their child's achievement level compared cross-state to MCAS because of the shared framework, which RIDE acknowledges in its public reporting. Districts use RICAS results to inform Multi-Tiered System of Support (MTSS) placements and to monitor progress against the Rhode Island Core Standards for Mathematics.

Official source: https://ride.ri.gov/instruction-assessment/assessment/ricas