A Publication of
the Madison Public
Schools Office of
Curriculum and
Instruction
January 2014
A Walk in the PARCC
aims to provide all
those with an interest
in the Madison Public
Schools with the latest
information about the
Common Core State
Standards and PARCC
assessments.
PARCC Sample Questions Now Available
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) has posted
sample test items for every grade on the testing platform students will use when taking the
field test later this spring.
This means teachers, students, parents and others will be able to engage with the sample
items using computer-based tools such as drag-and-drop, multiple select, text highlighting, and
an equation builder. PARCC also released online tutorials that demonstrate how students will
navigate the test; how to use the computer-based tools; and features that make the test more
accessible for all students, including those with disabilities and English learners.
The sample items were previously available as downloadable printouts. The sample items have
gone through a rigorous review process to ensure they are of high quality and are similar to the
types of items students will see when the test is fully operational in spring 2015. The sample
items are available at www.parcconline.org/computer-based-samples. To get a true
understanding of the range of rigor, item types and functionalities, users are encouraged to try
out items across all grades and to provide feedback. The sample items will not be scored.
The PARCC assessments represent a range of more rigorous and engaging test items – from a
new take on traditional multiple choice style questions aided by technology to longer tasks
that ask students to show their understanding. In reading and writing, students will have to
show they can read and understand complex passages, write persuasively, and present findings
based on research. In math, they will have to show their work and demonstrate they
understand a concept, rather than simply memorize a formula; they will have to apply math
knowledge to real-world problems.
Excerpted from “PARCC Sample Test Questions Now Ready for Computer Practice” released at
www.parcconline.org.
PARCC Field Test Update
Masthead Design:
Dani Bratton
Madison High School Teacher
The PARCC field tests, slated to begin in March, provide an opportunity for students and
teachers in PARCC states to play a role in the development of the future tests. Students and
schools will not be scored on the field tests, which are designed to make sure test items and
the technology function correctly, and to work out any glitches that might occur.
Approximately 1.2 million students in 14 of the PARCC states – roughly 10 percent of students
in grades 3 through 11 across the consortium – will take the field test this spring. All students
in the PARCC states will have access to practice tests this spring so that students not
participating in the field test can become familiar with the types of test items and the
functionality of the online testing.
Excerpted from “PARCC Sample Test
1 Questions Now Ready for Computer Practice” released at
www.parcconline.org.
Madison PARCC Field Test Schedule
A sample of students from four of Madison’s schools (Torey J. Sabatini is the exception) will
participate in the PARCC field testing. These students were selected randomly following
guidance from PARCC and the New Jersey Department of Education. Additional information
will be sent home to parents of students selected for the field test in February.
Total Testing Time
when Fully
Implemented in 20142015
(spread over 9 testing
sessions):
Grade 3 – 8 hours
Grades 4-5 – 9 hours,
20 minutes
Grade 6-8 – 9 hours,
25 minutes
Grades 9-10, 9 hours,
45 minutes
Grades 11-12, 9 hours,
55 minutes
School
Name
Grade/Course
Subject
Area
Number
of Classes
Component
Number of
Sessions
Dates
Central
Avenue
3
ELA
2
PBA
3
April
1-4
Central
Avenue
4
Math
2
PBA
2
March
31 –
April 1
Kings Road
5
ELA
2
EOY
2
May
19-20
Madison
Junior
School
7
Math
2
PBA & EOY
4
April
10-11
& May
14-15
Madison
Junior
School
8
ELA
2
PBA
3
April
7-9
Madison
High
School
9
ELA
2
PBA & EOY
5
March
24-26
& May
6, 16
PARCC – Mathematics Primer
The mathematics Performance Based Assessments (PBA) at each grade level will include both
short- and extended-response questions that focus on conceptual knowledge and skills, and
the mathematical practices of reasoning and modeling. The mathematics End of Year (EOY)
assessments will be comprised primarily of short-answer questions focused on conceptual
knowledge, skills, and understandings. The overall results of the mathematics assessments will
be reported in terms of scale and performance level scores.
The assessment score for each student will include the results from both the PBA and EOY
assessment components. PARCC has not yet determined how scores from the PBA and EOY
assessments will be weighted. Data provided through item development research and field
testing during the 2013-14 school year will inform this decision.
Excerpted from “Goodbye NJASK So Long HSPA Hello PARCC” by Amy Fratz, published in the
January 2014 issue of NJEA Review.
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PARCC – English Language Arts (ELA)/Literacy Primer
The English Language Arts/literacy Performance Based Assessments (PBA) will include a
research simulation, a literary analysis, and a narrative task. Each task will require students to
read one or more texts, answer several short comprehension and vocabulary questions, and
write an essay that requires them to draw evidence from the text(s). The ELA/literacy End of
Year (EOY) assessments will include four to five texts, both literary and informational (including
social science/historical, scientific, and technical texts at grades 6-11). A number of shortanswer comprehension and vocabulary questions will also be included for each text.
PARCC states that the results of the ELA/literacy assessments will be reported in three major
categories: 1) ELA/Literacy; 2) Reading and comprehending a range of sufficiently complex
texts independently; 3) Writing effectively when using and/or analyzing sources.
“The students’
ELA/literacy results will
be based on a
composite of their
reading and writing
scores.”
-Amy Fratz
The students’ ELA/literacy results will be based on a composite of their reading and writing
scores. Students will receive both a scale score and performance level scores for ELA/literacy,
and scale scores for the reading and writing categories.
In ELA/literacy, an additional required non-summative component will be administered to
assess students’ speaking and listening skills. Although this component is required, the score
will not be included in the summative score. This component will be locally scored. PARCC has
not announced a release date for this required component, and there will be no field testing of
the speaking and listening assessment in New Jersey.
Excerpted from “Goodbye NJASK So Long HSPA Hello PARCC” by Amy Fratz, published in the
January 2014 issue of NJEA Review.
Adjustments to Madison Curriculum
Teachers and administrators have been working hard to prepare for the implementation of the
Common Core State Standards for several years since they were adopted by the New Jersey
Department of Education in 2010. Here are a few highlights from the past year:
 The curricula in grades K-2 math were revised. Math in Focus was selected as the
program materials and is currently being implemented.
 In grades 3-5 math, pilot lessons from Math in Focus are being used this year in
advance of full implementation in 2014-2015.
 Grades 6-8 math and Algebra I curricula were revised and are being implemented at
Madison Junior and High schools this year.
 English Language Arts/literacy curricula were revised in grades K-8, English 9 honors,
and senior seminar and are being implemented across the district. A combination of
district funds and Madison Education Foundation grants have supported an influx of
new reading materials and innovative teaching and learning experiences to support the
new curricula.
 Program evaluation committees are currently reviewing the high school math and
English programs. A parent survey is available for math now and one for English will be
coming soon.
 Teachers continue to work with expert professional development providers to hone
their skills in order to bring the best instructional practices available to Madison
students.
This great progress would not have been possible without the leadership of Mark DeBiasse,
Supervisor of Humanities, Grades 6-12; Kathryn Lemerich, Supervisor of Mathematics and
Business, Grades K-12; and Janine Loconsolo, Supervisor of Elementary Education, Grades K-5.
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Parents’ Guide to Student Success
National PTA published the Parents’ Guide to Student Success in both English and Spanish. The
guide includes an overview of what the Common Core State Standards require at each grade
level in English Language Arts/literacy and math, activities parents can use with their children
at home, advice on how to build strong parent-teacher relationships and, in the high school
section, information about college and career planning.
“At home, you can
play an important role
in setting high
expectations and
supporting your child in
meeting them.
If your child needs a
little extra help or
wants to learn
more about a subject,
work with his or her
teacher to
identify opportunities
for tutoring, to get
involved in
clubs after school, or
to find other
resources.”
-National PTA
Online Readiness Update
from Our Technology Department
The technology department has been very busy over the last week getting ready for the PARCC
field test at Madison.
Some of the steps we have taken so far are:
1. Preparing computer lab equipment by installing the proper Internet browser and all
necessary updates
2. Installing a new server that will handle data transfers to the PARCC testing company
3. Establishing admin accounts in the Pearson Access Administrative portal
4. Configuring the PARCC testing software to work with our system and ensuring that we
are able to connect with the PARCC database
5. Creating student accounts for all students that will be tested
6. Establishing proctor accounts for staff members
As assessment development progresses, PARCC will continue to issue increasingly detailed
guidance and online tools to help schools evaluate and prepare their assessment technology
infrastructure. While there is still a lot of work to do, we feel that we have a good head start on
what is needed for successful PARCC testing thanks to the tireless efforts of John LaPierre and
the Madison Technology Staff.
What Do You Think?
“A Walk in the PARCC” is designed to keep the entire Madison learning community informed as
we transition to new educational standards and assessments. Please take a moment to
complete a brief survey to guide the development of future newsletters.
The survey can be accessed at http://tinyurl.com/AWalkInTheParcc.
Office of Curriculum and
Instruction
Madison Public Schools
359 Woodland Road
Madison. NJ 07940
www.madisonpublicschools.org
@MadisonNJPS
Matthew A. Mingle, Director
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