WDMS PARCC FAQ
**updated April 28, 2015**
This document is meant to provide members of the West Deptford Middle School Community with answers to some of the more Frequently Asked Questions regarding the upcoming PARCC assessment. More detailed information regarding testing schedules will be shared with families as we get closer to the actual test administration. In the meantime, the staff and administration of West Deptford Middle School encourage you to explore the PARCC assessment via the information and hyperlinked content found in this FAQ document.
CONTENTS:
ENSURING STUDENTS ARE PREPARED FOR PARCC
TEST ADMINISTRATION AND SCHEDULE
QUICK LINKS
WDMS PARCC TESTING SCHEDULE
PARCC PERFORMANCE BASED ASSESSMENT (PBA)
adjusted due to inclement weather
Testing Dates | Grade Level(s) |
March 3 – 11 | Grades 5 & 7 |
March 12– 18 | Grade 6 |
March 16 – 20 | Grade 8 |
March 23 - 27 | Makeup Testing |
PARCC END OF YEAR ASSESSMENT (EOY)
Testing Dates | Grade Level(s) |
April 27 - 30 | Grades 7 & 8 |
May 4 - 7 | Grades 5 & 6 |
May 11 - 14 | Make-up Testing |
OVERVIEW
What is PARCC?
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) is a computer-based assessment of Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy skills that measures whether students are meeting the new Common Core State Standards and on track to be successful in college and their careers. The PARCC assessments are designed to replace the NJASK in grades 3-8 in Language Arts and Mathematics, and the HSPA in grade 11. However, the New Jersey Department of Education will continue to administer the NJASK Science assessment in grades 4 and 8, and the NJ Biology Competency Test in high school. The PARCC assessments will be administered to students beginning in the Spring of 2015.
Will the PARCC assessment be used for academic placement for the 2015-2016 school year?
No. Academic placement regulations require multiple measures which provide the data needed to appropriately place students without the need for state standardized test results.
Do I have the option for my child to opt-out of the PARCC assessment?
No. The district is obligated by state regulations to administer the PARCC exam to all students. The district will continue to adhere to our attendance policies and regulations during this time.
When will the PARCC be administered?
The PARCC assessment is comprised of two parts: the Performance-Based Assessment (PBA) and the End-Of-Year (EOY) component. The Performance-Based Assessment will be administered to all students grades 3 through 11 during the testing window beginning March 2, 2015, and ending March 27, 2015. The End-Of-Year component will be administered to all students grades 3 through 11 during the testing window beginning April 27, 2015, and ending May 22, 2015.
How can parents learn more?
West Deptford Middle School will be hosting a Parent Academy evening on Wednesday, January 28, 2015, at 7:00 PM. At this event, PARCC will be discussed in the context of its role as the assessment component measuring mastery of Common Core State Standards. In addition, PARCC offers a series of resources with parents in mind at this web address: http://www.parcconline.org/for-parents.
ENSURING STUDENTS ARE PREPARED FOR PARCC
How is WDMS preparing our students academically?
West Deptford Middle School staff continually works to align curricula with the Common Core State Standards. The instructional sequence has been reorganized to address crucial PARCC content before testing begins in March. PARCC testing mirrors the types of high-quality work students are already doing in WDMS classrooms throughout the year.
Are there sample PARCC assessments available?
PARCC released online tutorials that demonstrate how to navigate the test. These sample test items and sample assessments are accessible at this web address: http://parcc.pearson.com/#. Once you arrive at the webpage, click the drop-down menu under the Test Preparation header for sample items and tutorials.
What is WDMS doing to help students master the technological skills required by the PARCC exam?
For the better part of a decade, computer literacy and keyboarding skills have been taught implicitly in all classes via our district’s 1-to-1 laptop program. Students regularly employ technology skills via daily class activities and diagnostic benchmark testing.
What can families do to help prepare students for the PARCC exam?
We encourage families to discuss the PARCC assessments with their children. The PARCC assessments are simply an opportunity for students to show what they know. Families can help students by encouraging them to be well rested, eat a healthy breakfast on testing days, and do their best to answer all questions fully on the test. In addition, families can reinforce that the District’s benchmark tests, which are administered three times a year, provide valuable experience for students to practice taking computer-based assessments and answer questions that are modeled after the levels of rigor found in PARCC. In addition, online tutorials aimed at guiding students through navigating the PARCC online platform are available here. Students should access their grade-level and subject specific tutorials under the heading Online Student Tutorials.
USE OF PARCC DATA
Is passing the PARCC assessment a requirement for graduation from middle school or advancement to the next grade level?
Passing the PARCC assessment is not a requirement for advancement or graduation from middle school. However, for the high school graduating classes of 2016, 2017, and 2018, students must either earn a passing score on the PARCC assessment, or demonstrate proficiencies in Mathematics and English Language Arts via an alternative assessment method approved by the NJ Department of Education. Additional high school-specific information about PARCC can be found here. It is anticipated that passing the PARCC assessments will become a high school graduation requirement beginning with the high school class of 2019.
Do students in the middle school who are taking Algebra I have to take the Algebra I PARCC assessment?
Yes. If a student is enrolled in Algebra I while in middle school, he/she will be administered the PARCC Algebra I assessment in lieu of the grade level math PARCC exam.
Will the Performance Based Assessment (PBA) and End-of-Year (EOY) Assessment be scored separately?
No. Students will receive a single score report that brings together the student’s performance on both the Performance Based Assessment (PBA) and the End-of-Year (EOY) Assessment sessions.
Is a student who does not pass the PARCC Assessment required to retake the assessment?
No. A student is not required to retake an assessment or retake the course based on their PARCC scores.
TEST ADMINISTRATION AND SCHEDULE
How long is the PARCC exam?
For students in Grade 5, the Performance Based Assessment portion of the PARCC assessment requires five sessions (two for Math, three for Language Arts) and the End-Of-Year portion of the PARCC assessment requires three exam sessions (two for Math, one for Language Arts).
For students in grades 6-8, the Performance Based Assessment portion of the PARCC assessment requires five sessions (two for Math, three for Language Arts) and the End-Of-Year portion of the PARCC assessment requires four exam sessions (two for Math, two for Language Arts). The chart below compares the overall testing times between the NJASK and the PARCC assessments per year.
Yearly Total Days of Testing Per Student By Grade Level (average available testing times are indicated in parentheses) | ||
Grade Level | PARCC | NJASK |
5 | 8 days (75 minutes per day) | 4 days (113 minutes per day) |
6 | 9 days (72 minutes per day) | 4 days (129 minutes per day) |
7 | 9 days (72 minutes per day) | 4 days (129 minutes per day) |
8* | 9 days (72 minutes per day) | 4 days (129 minutes per day) |
*excludes the NJASK 8 Science assessment, which will still be administered as a paper and pencil test.
Will a student be scheduled for more than one test session per day?
No. Although multiple sessions will be given in one day, a student will participate in only one test session per day. Each testing session must be completed within the same day and schools must schedule according to Total Administration time, so that students who need the additional time are able to use it.
When will the 2015 PARCC scores be available to school districts?
Student score reports will be available toward the end of September/early October 2015.
Are accommodations available for students?
Yes. The PARCC Accessibility Features and Accommodations manual on the PARCC website provides guidance to districts and decision-making teams to ensure that the PARCC assessments provide valid results for all participating students.
TECHNOLOGY REQUIREMENTS
Is our District PARCC ready?
The West Deptford School District meets and exceeds all recommendations provided by PARCC and the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE). West Deptford was fortunate to have piloted the PARCC field tests for two years prior to the 2015 roll out. As such, we have developed an ongoing focus toward the technology needs required by PARCC, and have provided the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) with valuable feedback regarding technology needs.
What technology equipment will my child use for the PARCC assessment?
Each student will use their West Deptford-issued laptop computer when taking the PARCC assessment. Students are welcome to bring their own headphones or earbuds for the assessment. In the event that they do not have their own, we have a limited number of headsets available to loan students.