{
  "_about": "Per-assessment year coverage for /data/assessments.parquet (and the /data/mcap/ JSON mirror). Keys are canonical `assessment` values; a ' [alt]' suffix marks the MCAP-Alternate series (is_alt=true rows). `status` says what the absence of the latest year MEANS: published | not_yet_published (expected in a later MSDE release) | instrument_changed (continues under another name) | superseded | unexplained_gap.",
  "latest_school_year": 2026,
  "status_as_of": "2026-07-30",
  "assessments": {
    "Algebra 1": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019,
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "Algebra 2": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019,
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "American Government": {
      "observed_years": [
        2023,
        2024,
        2025
      ],
      "status": "not_yet_published",
      "note": "Not in MSDE's 2026 partial release. Maryland plans to move social studies assessment to MSTAR in SY2027-28; if that is confirmed, this series becomes 'discontinued'.",
      "review_by": "2026-12-31",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    "American Government (Pass/Fail)": {
      "observed_years": [
        2022
      ],
      "status": "instrument_changed",
      "note": "2022 reported a pass/fail basis; from 2023 the same course reports MCAP proficiency under 'American Government'. Different thresholds — never trend across the two names.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    "ELA 10": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019,
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "ELA 11 [alt]": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019
      ],
      "status": "superseded",
      "note": "MSDE stopped publishing per-grade MCAP-ALT after 2022; the all-grades ALT series ('ELA All'/'Math All'/'Science All', is_alt=true) continues.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    "ELA 3": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019,
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "ELA 3 [alt]": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019
      ],
      "status": "superseded",
      "note": "MSDE stopped publishing per-grade MCAP-ALT after 2022; the all-grades ALT series ('ELA All'/'Math All'/'Science All', is_alt=true) continues.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    "ELA 3-5": {
      "observed_years": [
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "ELA 3-8": {
      "observed_years": [
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "ELA 4": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019,
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "ELA 4 [alt]": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019
      ],
      "status": "superseded",
      "note": "MSDE stopped publishing per-grade MCAP-ALT after 2022; the all-grades ALT series ('ELA All'/'Math All'/'Science All', is_alt=true) continues.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    "ELA 5": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019,
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "ELA 5 [alt]": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019
      ],
      "status": "superseded",
      "note": "MSDE stopped publishing per-grade MCAP-ALT after 2022; the all-grades ALT series ('ELA All'/'Math All'/'Science All', is_alt=true) continues.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    "ELA 6": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019,
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "ELA 6 [alt]": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019
      ],
      "status": "superseded",
      "note": "MSDE stopped publishing per-grade MCAP-ALT after 2022; the all-grades ALT series ('ELA All'/'Math All'/'Science All', is_alt=true) continues.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    "ELA 6-8": {
      "observed_years": [
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "ELA 7": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019,
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "ELA 7 [alt]": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019
      ],
      "status": "superseded",
      "note": "MSDE stopped publishing per-grade MCAP-ALT after 2022; the all-grades ALT series ('ELA All'/'Math All'/'Science All', is_alt=true) continues.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    "ELA 8": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019,
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "ELA 8 [alt]": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019
      ],
      "status": "superseded",
      "note": "MSDE stopped publishing per-grade MCAP-ALT after 2022; the all-grades ALT series ('ELA All'/'Math All'/'Science All', is_alt=true) continues.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    "ELA All": {
      "observed_years": [
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "ELA All [alt]": {
      "observed_years": [
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "Geometry": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019,
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "Math 11 [alt]": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019
      ],
      "status": "superseded",
      "note": "MSDE stopped publishing per-grade MCAP-ALT after 2022; the all-grades ALT series ('ELA All'/'Math All'/'Science All', is_alt=true) continues.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    "Math 3": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019,
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "Math 3 [alt]": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019
      ],
      "status": "superseded",
      "note": "MSDE stopped publishing per-grade MCAP-ALT after 2022; the all-grades ALT series ('ELA All'/'Math All'/'Science All', is_alt=true) continues.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    "Math 3-5": {
      "observed_years": [
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "Math 3-8": {
      "observed_years": [
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "Math 4": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019,
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "Math 4 [alt]": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019
      ],
      "status": "superseded",
      "note": "MSDE stopped publishing per-grade MCAP-ALT after 2022; the all-grades ALT series ('ELA All'/'Math All'/'Science All', is_alt=true) continues.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    "Math 5": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019,
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "Math 5 [alt]": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019
      ],
      "status": "superseded",
      "note": "MSDE stopped publishing per-grade MCAP-ALT after 2022; the all-grades ALT series ('ELA All'/'Math All'/'Science All', is_alt=true) continues.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    "Math 6": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019,
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "Math 6 [alt]": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019
      ],
      "status": "superseded",
      "note": "MSDE stopped publishing per-grade MCAP-ALT after 2022; the all-grades ALT series ('ELA All'/'Math All'/'Science All', is_alt=true) continues.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    "Math 6-8": {
      "observed_years": [
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "Math 7": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019,
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "Math 7 [alt]": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019
      ],
      "status": "superseded",
      "note": "MSDE stopped publishing per-grade MCAP-ALT after 2022; the all-grades ALT series ('ELA All'/'Math All'/'Science All', is_alt=true) continues.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    "Math 8": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019,
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "Math 8 [alt]": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019
      ],
      "status": "superseded",
      "note": "MSDE stopped publishing per-grade MCAP-ALT after 2022; the all-grades ALT series ('ELA All'/'Math All'/'Science All', is_alt=true) continues.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    "Math All": {
      "observed_years": [
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "Math All [alt]": {
      "observed_years": [
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "Science 5": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019,
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "Science 5 [alt]": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019
      ],
      "status": "superseded",
      "note": "MSDE stopped publishing per-grade MCAP-ALT after 2022; the all-grades ALT series ('ELA All'/'Math All'/'Science All', is_alt=true) continues.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    "Science 7 [alt]": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019
      ],
      "status": "superseded",
      "note": "MSDE stopped publishing per-grade MCAP-ALT after 2022; the all-grades ALT series ('ELA All'/'Math All'/'Science All', is_alt=true) continues.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    "Science 8": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019,
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "Science 8 [alt]": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019
      ],
      "status": "superseded",
      "note": "MSDE stopped publishing per-grade MCAP-ALT after 2022; the all-grades ALT series ('ELA All'/'Math All'/'Science All', is_alt=true) continues.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    "Science All [alt]": {
      "observed_years": [
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025,
        2026
      ],
      "status": "published"
    },
    "Science HS": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019,
        2021,
        2022,
        2023,
        2024,
        2025
      ],
      "status": "not_yet_published",
      "note": "MSDE's 2026 release is partial: EM science (grades 5/8) is out, high-school science is not yet published.",
      "review_by": "2026-12-31",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    "Science HS [alt]": {
      "observed_years": [
        2019
      ],
      "status": "superseded",
      "note": "MSDE stopped publishing per-grade MCAP-ALT after 2022; the all-grades ALT series ('ELA All'/'Math All'/'Science All', is_alt=true) continues.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    "Social Studies 8": {
      "observed_years": [
        2023,
        2024,
        2025
      ],
      "status": "not_yet_published",
      "note": "Not in MSDE's 2026 partial release. Maryland plans to move social studies assessment to MSTAR in SY2027-28; if that is confirmed, this series becomes 'discontinued'.",
      "review_by": "2026-12-31",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    }
  },
  "known_bad_slices": [
    {
      "slice": "2021 MCAP-ALT race/ethnicity splits (is_alt=true, year=2021, group_dim='race')",
      "status": "do_not_use",
      "reason": "MSDE's 2021 ALT files misclassify race at source: district ALT ELA reports 'Two or more races' 394 of 958 testers vs 37 of 1,004 in 2022 (Black 29 vs 322).",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    {
      "slice": "2021 tested_count in per-capita arithmetic (any assessment)",
      "status": "caution",
      "reason": "2021 bundled the spring and fall administrations under one year label; tested_count approaches two cohorts at some schools.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    {
      "slice": "science proficiency LEVEL changes, 2023-2026 (Science 5 / Science 8)",
      "status": "caution",
      "reason": "Statewide grade-staggered drop-then-recover wave (state Science 8 -9.0pp 2023 / +6.5pp 2025; Science 5 -10.6pp 2024 / +6.8pp 2026), uniform across schools and subgroups, band mass crossing the L2/L3 cut while cut scores are documented unchanged since Aug 2018 — assessment-level, mechanism undocumented. Do not read these moves as instruction.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    },
    {
      "slice": "2019 Algebra 1 pooled into math trends",
      "status": "caution",
      "reason": "PARCC-era administration: 18,702 district testers vs ~13,000 every year since.",
      "as_of": "2026-07-30"
    }
  ],
  "not_in_this_table": [
    {
      "dataset": "MCAP_Participation_Rate",
      "years": "2021-2025",
      "where": "mcps_consolidated.parquet (source='msde', domain='mcap_participation')",
      "note": "participation is not performance, so it is excluded from assessments.parquet by design — this manifest covers only the performance table and would otherwise omit it silently."
    }
  ],
  "partial_coverage": [
    {
      "scope": "school-level race × service intersections, science",
      "detail": "science intersections cover 57-58 schools per year (ELA/math cover ~130); the remaining science crawl is deferred",
      "reason": "fetch_deferred",
      "ref": "TODO.md §1"
    },
    {
      "scope": "school-level per-grade ELA/Math × subgroup (grade matching ^[0-9]+$)",
      "detail": "crawled for MS/HS/special schools only — elementary subgroup coverage is complete at the cross-grade aggregate (grade='All')",
      "reason": "by_design",
      "ref": "TODO.md §1"
    }
  ],
  "inferred_suppression": {
    "policy": "The fetcher skips a race × service cell when BOTH its marginals are already archived and EITHER is strictly suppressed — the intersection was usable in 0 of 42,050 such cells measured. Skipped cells carry bound='suppressed:inferred' in assessments.parquet and value_text='suppressed:inferred' in mcps_consolidated.parquet; source-withheld cells carry 'suppressed'. For ALL withheld cells filter suppressed = true.",
    "cells_to_date": 0
  }
}