PARCC FAQs OVERVIEW Q. What is PARCC? A. The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College Careers (PARCC) is a group of 12 states working together to develop a common set of computer based K 12 assessments in English language arts/literacy math linked to the new, more rigorous Common Core State Stards (CCSS). Q. What are the benefits of the PARCC assessments? A. In ELA/literacy, many states don t assess writing few assess critical thinking skills. PARCC will do both. In math, most current assessments are fill in the blank bubble tests. PARCC will give students a chance to solve real problems. Plus, they ll not only have to solve complex problems, but show how they solved them. Q.What are the components of the PARCC assessment system for the 2016 17 school year? A. There is only one testing window for ELA/literacy mathematics. All students will take this summative test in March May 2017 to show what they know after approximately 85% of the school year. In ELA/literacy, this will involve analyzing literature, research simulation, a narrative writing task. Students will read texts write several pieces to demonstrate they can read underst sufficiently complex texts independently, write effectively when using analyzing sources; build communicate knowledge by integrating, comparing, synthesizing ideas. In math, students will be asked to solve problems involving the key knowledge skills for their grade level (as identified by the Common Core State Stards), express mathematical reasoning construct a mathematical argument, apply concepts to solve model multiple step problems that require abstract reasoning, precision, strategic use of tools Q. Can a student refuse to take the PARCC assessments? A. As stated in New Jersey Department of Education Commissioner David Hespe s October 30, 2014 memo, federal requirements mate New Jersey develop a Statewide assessment in reading, writing, math, that local school districts administer these tests to all students in grades 3 HS. In accordance with the above, North Brunswick, like all NJ districts, cannot offer an opt out option for State mated assessments. To help foster a positive transition to these new assessments, NBTSchools will provide opportunities for families to learn about the proposed merits of PARCC the district s plan to train staff, administer the assessments, use the results to strategically inform teaching learning; please utilize our NBTSchools Common Core PARCC Presentation tab on the left side to access all of our public presentations. Any refusals are to be submitted to the building principal as a hard copy letter signed by the parent/guardian. *High school refusals will also be asked to sign a waiver form https://sites.google.com/a/nbtschools.org/nbtschools-parcc--common-core-parent-resource/parcc-faqs?tmpl=%2fsystem%2fapp%2ftemplates%2fprint%2f&sho 1/8
acknowledging the NJDOE "Pathways to Graduation" assessment requirements. *Please also refer to North Brunswick's Assessment Policy Procedures for further information. Q. How much time will the Spring 2017 PARCC assessments take? A. Q. What is the difference between a unit a session? A. Unit: Each content area (or session) of the PARCC assessments is comprised of units. Session: A session includes all of the units for a content area may be scheduled across one or more days. Sessions refer to the groups of tested students that are scheduled together (as set up in PearsonAccessNext for computer based testing). Q. My child is in a middle school Algebra I course, which PARCC test is required? A. Middle school students enrolled in either Algebra I or Geometry are required to take the PARCC Algebra I or Geometry assessment in lieu of their grade level PARCC. Q. My child takes multiple math courses in high school, which PARCC test is required? A. High school students enrolled in multiple mathematics courses at the same time (i.e. https://sites.google.com/a/nbtschools.org/nbtschools-parcc--common-core-parent-resource/parcc-faqs?tmpl=%2fsystem%2fapp%2ftemplates%2fprint%2f&sho 2/8
Algebra I Geometry or Geometry Algebra II), will only take one PARCC mathematics assessment, either Algebra I or Algebra II. Q. Are students required to bring their own devices when participating in the PARCC assessments? A. No. NBTSchools provides students with a computer, a mouse, a h held calculator, earbuds for the PARCC assessments. *Students are, however, encouraged to bring in their own headsets/earbuds for the ELA sessions. STUDENT PREPARATION Q. Will students have opportunities to practice the tests? A. Yes. A tutorial practice tests can be found here, have been made available to all district staff to be conducted at the classroom level beginning in the winter months. *Pearson updated these resources on Fall 2016. The practice items use the TestNav 8 platform which can be accessed at home as well for additional practice paper practice is also available to utilize can be accessed at home via our PARCC Practice Tests link on the left side of this page. Q. What are NBTSchools doing to help students master the technological skills required by the PARCC assessment? A. In 2016 17, all students in grades 3 HS will engage in the PARCC tutorial, ELA math practice tests to become familiar with the technology enhanced tools that appear on PARCC. Furthermore, these exercises allow all students to practice with the online tools that are embedded within the TestNav 8 platform. Additionally, in the classroom students have worked with technological enhanced activities such as: Google Apps for Education Technology infused lessons integrated throughout K 12 program Skills: Drag drop, highlight text, cut paste, move items, use of math tools online calculators (6 HS), graphing tools, typing longer written responses in ELA Math Q. What types of accommodations will be allowed for students with disabilities English Language Learners for these assessments? A. The PARCC Accessibility Accommodations Manual is a comprehensive policy document that will support educators in the selection, administration evaluation of accommodations for the assessment of students with disabilities English language learners. All district staff involved in this process have been trained in this area. Q.What can families do to help prepare students for the PARCC exam? A. Parents students can continue to familiarize themselves with PARCCs TestNav platform by utilizing the PARCC practice site; all items will also be reviewed with students in hs on lessons beginning in this winter. https://sites.google.com/a/nbtschools.org/nbtschools-parcc--common-core-parent-resource/parcc-faqs?tmpl=%2fsystem%2fapp%2ftemplates%2fprint%2f&sho 3/8
Please access our Winter 2016 PARCC Community Night presentation that highlights support at home; each school will hold its own 2017 PARCC Parent Night please see the district website for details. PARCC DATA Q. How quickly will assessment data be returned to teachers? A. Individualized Score Reports (ISRs) are only generated for students who complete all units of a given test, the Spring 2016 reports were mailed home the week of September 19th. Parents should contact their child's school if they did not receive a score report. Q. How will the performance based assessments the end of year assessments be weighted within a student s total score? A. The 2016 PARCC scores include an overall score (out of a possible 850) performance level (1 5) which gives a glimpse as to whether or not a student is on track with grade level expectations in English/Language Arts mathematics. The levels of proficiency are detailed below: 1 Did not yet meet expectations 2 Partially met expectations 3 Approached expectations 4 Met expectations 5 Exceeded expectations The PARCC states have developed detailed descriptors of student achievement at each performance level in all grades subjects; these can be found at http://parcconline.org. Parents/guardians can also utilize the PARCC Score Reports link on the left sidebar for further resources. Q. Is passing the PARCC assessment currently a requirement for high school graduation? A. School counselors can certify that a student in the classes of 2017 through 2019 has met the state proficiency requirements in many ways. The Class of 2020 can demonstrate graduation assessment proficiency through the same alternative means as those in the Classes of 2017 through 2019, provided that students in the Class of 2020 take all endof course PARCC assessments for which they are eligible, as of the effective date of when the amendments were adopted by the State Board of Education. New Jersey s transition from the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) to the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College Careers (PARCC) End of Course assessments indicates that the students, including students with disabilities, in the classes of 2017, 2018, 2019, 2020 would be able to demonstrate the proficiencies in English https://sites.google.com/a/nbtschools.org/nbtschools-parcc--common-core-parent-resource/parcc-faqs?tmpl=%2fsystem%2fapp%2ftemplates%2fprint%2f&sho 4/8
Language Arts (ELA) Mathematics required by state statute by either meeting the cut score on the PARCC assessments or meeting the cut score on an substitute assessment or by meeting the criteria of the NJDOE portfolio appeal process. Additionally, a student with a disability, whose IEP team determines that the student is exempted from the requirements above would be required to achieve the alternate proficiency in his/her IEP. The state has provided additional guidance to schools on how to determine proficiencies on substitute assessments the PARCC assessments as shown in the table below for the classes of 2017, 2018 & 2019, 2020, 2021 These students will be able to demonstrate proficiency in both ELA math by meeting ONE of the criteria in each column below for the Classes of 2017 through 2019 & then for the Classes of 2020 & 2021: These graduation requirements have been updated to include the Class of 2020 as stated by the NJDOE in August 2016. As of May 2015, new SAT scoring has been included. Classes of 2017, 2018 & 2019 English Language Arts Mathematics ELA Gr9 >=750 (Level 4) or ELA Gr10>=750 (Level 4) or ELA Gr11>=725 (Level 3) or Prior to 3/1/16* SAT Critical Reading >= 400 or 3/1/16 or later SAT Evidence Based Reading Writing Section >= 450 OR SAT Reading Test >= 22 or Passing score on PARCC Algebra I>=750 (Level 4) or Passing score on PARCC Geometry>=725 (Level 3) or Passing score on PARCC Algebra II>=725 (Level 3) or Prior to 3/1/16* SAT Math >= 400 or 3/1/16 or later SAT Math Section >= 440 OR SAT Math Test >= 22 or ACT or ACT PLAN Reading>=16 or ACT or ACT PLAN Math>=16 or Accuplacer WritePlacer>=6 or Accuplacer Elementary Algebra>=76 or PSAT 10 Reading or PSAT NMSQT Reading**>=40 or PSAT 10 Reading or PSAT NMSQT Reading**>=22 or PSAT 10 Math or PSAT NMSQT Math**>=40 or PSAT 10 Math or PSAT NMSQT Math**>=22 or ACT Aspire Reading>=422 or ACT Aspire Math>=422 or ASVAB AFQT Composite>31 or ASVAB AFQT Composite>31 or Note: * SAT taken prior to March 2016; ** PSAT taken prior to October 2015. https://sites.google.com/a/nbtschools.org/nbtschools-parcc--common-core-parent-resource/parcc-faqs?tmpl=%2fsystem%2fapp%2ftemplates%2fprint%2f&sho 5/8
Class of 2020 English Language Arts Mathematics (Must Take) PARCC ELA Gr9 ELA Gr9 >=750 (Level 4) (Must Take) PARCC ELA Gr10 ELA Gr10 >=750 (Level 4) (Must Take) PARCC ELA Gr11 ELA Gr11 >=725 (Level 3) If passing score not met on any of the (Must Take) PARCC Algebra I ALG01 >=750 (Level 4) (Must Take) PARCC Geometry GEO01 >=725 (Level 3) (Must Take) PARCC Algebra II ALG02 >=725 (Level 3) three PARCC ELA assessments, then the three PARCC mathematics assessments, student can use the following: Prior to 3/1/16* SAT Critical Reading >= 400 or 3/1/16 or later SAT Evidence Based Reading Writing Section >= 450 OR SAT Reading Test >= 22 or If passing score not met on any of the then the student can use the following: Prior to 3/1/16* SAT Math >= 400 or 3/1/16 or later SAT Math Section >= 440 OR SAT Math Test >= 22 or ACT or ACT PLAN Reading>=16 or ACT or ACT PLAN Math>=16 or Accuplacer WritePlacer>=6 or Accuplacer Elementary Algebra>=76 or PSAT 10 Reading or PSAT NMSQT Reading**>=40 or PSAT 10 Reading or PSAT NMSQT Reading**>=22 or PSAT 10 Math or PSAT NMSQT Math**>=40 or PSAT 10 Math or PSAT NMSQT Math**>=22 or ACT Aspire Reading>=422 or ACT Aspire Math>=422 or ASVAB AFQT Composite>31 or ASVAB AFQT Composite>31 or For the Class of 2021 thereafter, students who have NOT demonstrated proficiency on the ELA 10 Algebra I assessments, have taken all end of course PARCC assessments for which they are eligible, can demonstrate graduation assessment proficiency by meeting the criteria of the portfolio appeals process. Class of 2021 English Language Arts Mathematics (Must Take) PARCC ELA Gr9 (Must Take Pass) PARCC Algebra I https://sites.google.com/a/nbtschools.org/nbtschools-parcc--common-core-parent-resource/parcc-faqs?tmpl=%2fsystem%2fapp%2ftemplates%2fprint%2f&sho 6/8
(Must Take Pass) PARCC ELA Gr10 (Must Take) PARCC ELA Gr11 If passing score not met on PARCC ELA Grade 10, then the student can use the following: (Must Take) PARCC Geometry (Must Take) PARCC Algebra II If passing score not met on PARCC Algebra I, then the student can use the following: From the NJDOE: It is important to note there has always been a system for students to demonstrate meet graduation requirements through an alternative assessment or pathway to graduation throughout New Jersey s forty year history with a statewide assessment program. Q. Once my child has met the graduation requirement by passing a PARCC assessment in both language arts math, is it necessary to continue to take PARCC assessments in subsequent school years? A. Yes, students are required to take the PARCC tests even after meeting the graduation requirement. The graduation requirement is just one purpose for stardized testing. The NJ Department of Education requires ALL students to take the PARCC tests in English Language Arts (ELA) Grades 9 11, Algebra I, II, Geometry during their high school years. State statute requires all public schools to test students annually in these courses to determine student progress in literacy computation skills. The PARCC results will help schools drive curriculum instruction, so we can identify any gaps ensure that students graduate fully prepared for college careers. In summary, even after meeting the graduation requirement, students will still be taking the PARCC tests if they are enrolled in one of the above mentioned courses. Q. What are the new NJDOE guidelines for current middle school students taking Algebra I or Geometry PARCC tests in Spring 2017 OR for students in the Classes of 2020 or 2021 who have already completed an Algebra I course prior to September 6, 2016 when the NJDOE updated the state high school graduation requirements? A. Only students in the graduating cohorts of 2020 2021 currently enrolled in an Algebra I course or completed an Algebra I course prior to September 6, 2016 are eligible to utilize the following pathways: 1. Take or retake the PARCC Algebra I assessment pass (if a student has already passed the Algebra I PARCC, he/she has met the NJDOE high school graduation requirement) 2. Utilize the NJDOE portfolio appeals process, provided they take the PARCC Geometry assessment the PARCC Algebra II assessment (if enrolled in an Algebra II course) 3. Take pass the Geometry or Algebra II assessment. https://sites.google.com/a/nbtschools.org/nbtschools-parcc--common-core-parent-resource/parcc-faqs?tmpl=%2fsystem%2fapp%2ftemplates%2fprint%2f&sho 7/8
*The students in these two cohorts need to complete only one of the above three pathways in order to meet their high school graduation mathematics assessment requirement. https://sites.google.com/a/nbtschools.org/nbtschools-parcc--common-core-parent-resource/parcc-faqs?tmpl=%2fsystem%2fapp%2ftemplates%2fprint%2f&sho 8/8