THE ALLENDALE PARENTS AS
PARTNERS SERIES PRESENTS:
PARCC AND THE COMMON CORE
NOVEMBER 18, 2014
Quick Snapshot: Common Core and PARCC
●CCSS launched in 2009 though the National Governors Association for
Best Practices (NGS Center)
●Common Core State Standards (CCSS) (2010), NJCCCS (1996)
●NJ adopted CCSS to replace 2009 NJCCCS in ELA/Math
●PARCC is 1 of 2 national assessment consortium testing students’
mastery of CCSS, Grades 3-11(NJ opted for PARCC)
●Focus shifted from meeting proficiency in standards to college/career
readiness
●The standards (CCSS) are not our curriculum
●PARCC - Detailed diagnostic information
●Opt-Out
●Purpose - What tonight is and is not?
Preparing for the Common Core & PARCC
How can we prepare
for a new era of
assessments without
compromising the
integrity of our
educational system?
Information: What is the context and background
surrounding the Common Core?
Accountability: How are students/schools held
accountable to the Common Core?
Technology: What do I need to know about assessment
technology? How can it be helpful to my child?
Rigor: How will our students be prepared?
Information: What are key themes of information surrounding the Common
Core
Time & Implementation
Standards Movement
Cognitive Demand &
Developmental
Appropriateness
Implications Across
Curriculum
Time and Implementation
Curriculum: 5 years of standards analysis and alignment + local
curriculum designed to meet/exceed standards = no “extra” curriculum
Testing: NJASK (12 hours) v. PARCC (9.5 hours + administration)
Administration: Performance-Based Assessment (20-day window in
March) + End-of-Year Assessment (20-day window in May)
Accountability: Specific diagnostic/formative information,
individualized by student
PARCC and Time Spent Testing
Cognitive Demand & Developmental Appropriateness
“These standards are designed to raise the bar, but no one
is stopping schools and teachers from exceeding the bar.
In fact, the BASIS charter schools claim they complete the
K-12 Common Core Standards by the 9th grade. I am sure
many great schools with high bars could do this.” C. Culver
(former, G. Bush education adviser)
Cognitive Demand & Developmental Appropriateness
Cognitive Demand & Developmental Appropriateness
Fourth grade students have a strong foundation in using the four
operations with whole numbers. Students will have to wrestle with
these relationships without much scaffolding so the numbers in the item
are not too complex to ensure the task is still grade appropriate. The
procedural skills are an important element of the solution path;
however, the numbers were carefully chosen to ensure that application
was the primary focus of the task. There are a wide variety of solution
processes that students may use to receive full credit. Unlike traditional
multiple choice, it is difficult to guess the correct answer or use a choice
elimination strategy. (PARCC)
The Standards Movement
Implications Across Curricula
Language Arts Assessment
Two Assessments/Flexible Administration
1)
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Performance-Based Assessment (PBA)
Writing Essays drawing evidence from sources, including multimedia
Some reading comprehension assessment
Combination of Human/Machine Scored
March 2, 2015 through March 27, 2015
2)
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End-of-year Assessment (EOY)
Demonstrating comprehension of literary and informational texts
Mostly Machine Scored
April 27, 2015 through May 22, 2015
The Key Shifts at the Heart of PARCC Design and ELA
Standards
1.Complexity: The standards require regular practice with complex text and its academic
language.
2.Evidence: The standards emphasize reading and writing grounded in evidence from
text, both literary and informational.
3.Knowledge: The standards require building knowledge through content rich
nonfiction.
Note: These shifts, which are required in teachers instruction and students’
performance, will be reflected in PARCC assessments.
http://www.parcconline.org
Features of the Common Core and PARCC
ELA Assessment
PARCC includes questions with more than one right
answer
● allows for students to generate a range of rich insights
substantiated with evidence from text(s)
PARCC simulates research
● allows for the comparison and synthesis of ideas across
a range of informational sources
http://www.parcconline.org
PARCC Types of Questions
Evidence-Based Multiple Choice: A two part question
Part 1: Traditional multiple choice question
NJASK/NJCCS
Part 2: A second multiple choice question that asks students to
show evidence from the text to support their answer to Part 1
PARCC/CCS
http://www.parcconline.org
Evidence-Based Multiple Choice: A two part question
Evidence-Based Multiple Choice: A two part question
PARCC Types of Questions
Technology-Enhanced Constructed Response
Uses technology to capture student comprehension of texts in authentic
ways
● drag and drop
● cut and paste
● shade or highlight text
● move items
http://www.parcconline.org
Technology Enhanced Response
PARCC Types of Questions
Prose Constructed Response
Elicits evidence that students have understood a text or texts
they have read and can communicate that understanding well
both in terms of written expression and knowledge of language
and conventions
Note: There are four of these items of varying types on the PBA
http://www.parcconline.org
Prose Constructed Response
Grade 7
You have read three texts describing Amelia Earhart. All three include the claim
that Earhart was a brave, courageous person. The three texts are:
“Biography of Amelia Earhart”
“Earhart’s Final Resting Place”
“Amelia Earhart’s Life and Disappearance”
Consider the argument each author uses to demonstrate Earhart’s bravery.
Write an essay that analyzes the strengths of the arguments about Earhart’s
bravery in at least two of the texts. Remember to use evidence to support your
ideas.
http://www.parcconline.org
Mathematics Assessment
What Will be Assessed?