Another state (AZ) drops PARCC

[Anonymous]

DC and NJ are only remaining states using it.

AZ may use some of it this spring to ensure continued compliance with ESSA, but they are going to develop "something else."

https://www.abqjournal.com/1264248/lujan-grisham-orders-end-to-parcc-testing-in-nm.html?utm_source=notification&utm_medium=notification&utm_campaign=1264248

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC and NJ are only remaining states using it.

AZ may use some of it this spring to ensure continued compliance with ESSA, but they are going to develop "something else."

https://www.abqjournal.com/1264248/lujan-grisham-orders-end-to-parcc-testing-in-nm.html?utm_source=notification&utm_medium=notification&utm_campaign=1264248

The problem for DC is we had nothing before it once Rhee trashed the old and started again; hence, all the new curricula is all now tied up with common core and PARCC. Can't remember what that ridiculous assessment we had before but PARCC is better, other states can revert to what they had and amend or have experts in their field who can advice. After the Rhee flight and her posse's more recent departure we have a bunch of folks who haven't taught, don't know what they are doing, no generational or DCPS history and reluctant to give up their big checks to start again. Like most things in DCPS it is a sh## show. We don't even have a permanent Chancellor and OSSE is useless!

[Anonymous]

Through 2013-14 we had DC-CAS as the city's mandatory, standards-based assessment.

PARCC only began being administered in SY 2014-15

https://osse.dc.gov/service/dc-cas

[Anonymous]

What reason do AZ and others give for leaving PARCC? What do they change to?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What reason do AZ and others give for leaving PARCC? What do they change to?

Most are going to develop (eg hire consultants) to create a new test that aligns to he Common Core standards. Most will be unique to their state.

From what I’ve read, a few are keeping sections from PARCC but will give it a new name.

[Anonymous]

I would be wary of any test developed by DC. They would probably dumb it down a ton.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I would be wary of any test developed by DC. They would probably dumb it down a ton.

They will contract it out. OSSE did that for the statewide science assessment we are supposed to have (separate from PARCC). It was given in test mode 2 years (either 15-16 or 16-17) and was so flawed it was tossed before any results were given.

DC could have ‘watered down’ PARCC by setting the levels for 3, 4, 5 etc lower than other states but didn’t.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC and NJ are only remaining states using it.

AZ may use some of it this spring to ensure continued compliance with ESSA, but they are going to develop "something else."

https://www.abqjournal.com/1264248/lujan-grisham-orders-end-to-parcc-testing-in-nm.html?utm_source=notification&utm_medium=notification&utm_campaign=1264248

The link goes to an article on New Mexico dropping it. AZ dropped it some time ago. NJ just struck down a law requiring students to pass PARCC for HS graduation. NJ may not be far behind in dropping the test altogether.

Why is PARCC such a failure for states? More states seem to be keeping the Smarter Balanced test (SBAC).

[Anonymous]

Maryland dropped it last year.

[Anonymous]

So what are the good tests out there?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:So what are the good tests out there?

Some people say the SmarterBalanced test is better (i think it sounds like a food product). It's online too, adaptive (e.g. if you get a question right it gives progressively harder questions to see where a child's proficiency taps out, so to speak). But I think they have been losing states too.

I think most states are going to end up hiring Pearson to develop new tests for their state, which will be slightly different than other states, but branded as the Arizona test, the Maryland test, etc. And Pearson will collect money from everyone.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:DC and NJ are only remaining states using it.

AZ may use some of it this spring to ensure continued compliance with ESSA, but they are going to develop "something else."

https://www.abqjournal.com/1264248/lujan-grisham-orders-end-to-parcc-testing-in-nm.html?utm_source=notification&utm_medium=notification&utm_campaign=1264248

NJ is dropping PARCC too

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:So what are the good tests out there?

Some people say the SmarterBalanced test is better (i think it sounds like a food product). It's online too, adaptive (e.g. if you get a question right it gives progressively harder questions to see where a child's proficiency taps out, so to speak). But I think they have been losing states too.

I think most states are going to end up hiring Pearson to develop new tests for their state, which will be slightly different than other states, but branded as the Arizona test, the Maryland test, etc. And Pearson will collect money from everyone.

I'm a teacher and worked as a scorer for both tests and definitely liked Smarter Balanced better, at least on the grading side. The task seemed more reasonable and the criteria more age appropriate and not as rigid.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:What reason do AZ and others give for leaving PARCC? What do they change to?

Because for the most part it showed what students didn't know!!! I don't know why having a national curriculum is such an issue, other counties have one without too much bother. Parents and educators need to have some idea about what the children are learning, whether they are on track, and be able to compare between schools. If everyone is doing something different nothing makes any sense. If school A does one thing, school b etc. The problem was with the punishment attached to the test scores and firing and closing down schools without understanding the school culture. The DC CAS was an absolute joke, the PARCC is harder and there are problems with the way it is administered and used to assess teachers rather than learners but it is better than the CAS.