Move over MCAS, because the future of standardized testing is not with number two pencils and papers, but with computers and the Internet. On June 3, Rochester decided to move forward by adopting the online PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) exam and doing away with MCAS (Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System).
Students at Rochester Memorial School recently completed taking a PARCC pilot run, and the teachers and students alike are showing a preference for the new online test.
Superintendent Doug White explained that a new law grants Massachusetts school committees the authority to decide on which test to adopt, but the decision must be made by October 1.
“[MCAS] is no longer aligned with the Common Core,” said White. “And PARCC is.”
White said the PARCC exam the RMS students took is completely different from what they are accustomed to, but after some time, the students adjusted to the format and were navigating the online exam.
According to RMS Principal Derek Medeiros, students were “flying through the questions” at first, but as they progressed, some began to comment that they had never seen some of the material in the MCAS before.
Medeiros said it took the students some time to realize that the online exam begins to adapt itself around the student’s ability and becomes more challenging if the student is excelling.
Assistant Superintendent Dr. Elise Frangos added that, unlike MCAS test results that were not available until the following school year, data on students’ achievement on the PARCC test is available sooner.
The Commonwealth has already moved to eventually eliminate MCAS and replace it with either PARCC or another online exam similar to PARCC, so a decision to go with PARCC would give an incentive by allowing students to acclimate themselves to the testing method and the types of questions asked. The State will not allow schools to use both exams.
“There’s no combination of the two,” said White. “It’s either all in or nothing.”
In the meantime, the science MCAS will remain the same, and there is no plan in place yet to change or alter the MCAS at the high school level.
White recommended the switch to PARCC, but admitted that, six months ago, he and Frangos were “pretty much on the same page.”
“MCAS or bust,” Frangos chimed in.
But now, said White, after learning more about PARCC, they prefer it to MCAS.
Specific benefits to switching to PARCC include prompt State support in establishing infrastructure for taking the test, as well as teacher training. The year 2015 PARCC testing will also be more like a grace period, with scores not counting against the school.
The committee unanimously approved the change from MCAS to PARCC for 2015.
Also during the meeting, the committee approved another contract to continue to use Whaling City Transportation for special education transportation, a new School Improvement Plan presented by Medeiros, and a YMCA contract accepting an annual fee of $900 cash and $900 “in kind” compensation for use of the RMS facilities.
The committee also authorized White to approach the Board of Selectmen to discuss leasing space at RMS and approved a Professional Development Plan as presented by Frangos.
White told the committee during his financial report that there was still $81,000 left in the FY14 budget, and there are only two weeks left to the school year.
“So, we made it,” said White.
By Jean Perry
PARCC is not inevitable. 25 states originally signed up for PARCC and there are only 9 still remaining. Other tests are growing in popularity. Did it anyone ask why 16 states have severed their relationship with PARCC? Did anyone mention that Massachusetts Education Commissioner, Mitchell Chester is both the Chairman of the Board of Governors of PARCC and the President of PARCC, Inc.? Did the committee reveal any cost projections of implementing PARCC? Was it stated that the results of the 2015 PARCC test will not be seen by parents, students, teachers or administrators?
If the answer to any of these questions is no, then the citizens have been grossly under-served by their School Committee Members.
David McGeney, Peabody School Committee
They’ll be sorry…do some research for crying out loud.
Superintendent Doug White himself gives the best reason NOT to go with PARCC when he says “MCAS is no longer aligned with the Common Core,” “And PARCC is.”
I’m appalled at how uninformed Superintendent Doug White is concerning PARCC. Whether students like this test or not or if it is with pencil or on computer is not the issue. The real issue is that PARCC represents the Common Core curriculum which is inferior to MA state standards. PARCC should be rejected at all costs as a statement that the citiznes do not want continual adaption of common core standards into MA state standards. In fact we want to go back to pre-2010 MCAS standards which have no Common Core contamination.
If Mr. white was at all converned with the education level in Rochester he would have advised the school committee to reject PARCC.
Me, personally, I am a student in mattapoisett. I was one of the many students to take the test run. This test is treating you like pre-schoolers, and most questions do not make sense. Teachers have to re-teach every lesson, so students will learn new stradegies and to take a timed test. Also, it mentions that this test will be taken online. There are only so many computers in the school, and more and more money will have to go to purchasing tablets and computers. This test is not only unfair to the students, who have limited time to finish their work, and also unfair to the schools for having to pay tones of money. This PARCC test will be starting in first grade. That’s right, first grade! This is so unfair to there poor little children who will already have stress problems at the age of 6! I’m sorry if anyone disagrees with me, but that’s my opinion. And remember, I’ve had first hand experience with this test. Thank you
I’m so tired of hearing about common core. I want the school administrations, school districts and those supporting this methodology to prepare and present ALL budgets, results of actual and analysis of the two using that approach. It’s insane! It’s like reinventing the wheel it’s not better its just more complicated. It results in total frustration for the students and their parents/guardians. Also show me how these supporters use this approach with their own family budgets and balancing their bank statements. Ludicrous – 3×15= 45 whether it’s 15 three times, 3 fifteen times, 9 five times or 5 nine times — the answer is still 45! Why are we changing the way of math when it has been taught/learned for hundreds of years? Stop this insanity.