PARCC Update
June 6, 2014
PARCC Update
Today’s Presentation:
 PARCC Field Test
 Lessons Learned from the Field Test
 PARCC Resources
2
Introduction to PARCC
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness
for College and Careers:
•A consortium of states developing common,
high-quality English language arts (ELA) and
math tests for grades 3–11
o
Computer-based and linked to what students
need to know for college and careers
•Two summative assessment components:
o
o
Performance-Based Assessment (PBA)
End-of-Year Assessment (EOY)
3
PARCC Field Testing:
Schools in 14 States & DC
• Over 1 million
students
• Nearly 16,000
schools
• 2 grades per
school
4
PARCC Field Testing in New York
• 230 Schools in 75 Districts agreed to
participate in the PARCC Field Test in Spring
2014.
• 60% of the field tests were administered
online; 40% on paper.
• Field tests were administered in ELA and Math
in Grades 3-11.
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Purpose of Field Tests
The field tests are
designed to generate
data to evaluate the
quality of the test
questions.
• Opportunity for a
number of important
research studies.
• Not designed to
yield individual
student, school, or
district results.
• No stakes for
schools, teachers,
or students.
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Field Testing Windows
MARCH
APRIL
MAY
JUNE
24
11
5
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Field testing the
performance-based
assessment, which
features writing in
English Language
Arts (ELA) and multistep, real-world
problems in math
Field testing the endof-year assessment,
which features
reading
comprehension in
ELA and conceptual
understanding in
math
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Field Test Benefits
• Students become familiar with new item
types and the test delivery platform
• Teachers provide feedback to PARCC on
“how it went”
• Technology Coordinators evaluate their
schools’ technology systems
• Administrators evaluate overall readiness
• Test Developers measure the reliability of the
test questions
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Test Management System
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Managing Computer-Based Testing
10
Managing Test Sessions
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Managing Test Sessions
12
The Test Environment
13
The Test Environment - ELA
14
The Test Environment - Math
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The Test Environment - Math
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Reviewing Answers
17
Types of Accessibility Features and
Accommodations
Features for All
Students
Accessibility
Features*
Identified in advance
Accommodations**
18
Accessibility Features for All Students
Assigned the Computer-Based Test Mode
Accessibility Features for All Students Assigned the Computer-Based Test
Mode
Audio Amplification
Blank/Scratch Paper (provided by test administrator)
Eliminate Answer Choices
Flag Items for Review
General Administration Directions Clarified (by test administrator)
General Administration Directions Read Aloud and Repeated (by test administrator)
Text Highlighter Tool
Headphones or Noise Buffers
Line Reader
Magnification/Enlargement Device
Pop-Up Glossary
Redirect Student to Test (by test administrator)
Writing Tools
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Feedback on the PARCC Field Test
from New York
PARCC Field Test Studies
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Field Test Feedback
• PARCC Surveys

Test Coordinators

Technology Coordinators

Test Administrators

Students
• NYSED Feedback Sessions

Gathering feedback from participating districts
and schools on the field test and technology
readiness
• New York feedback is shared with PARCC & Pearson
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How Will PARCC Use Feedback?
• PARCC staff, Working Groups and Pearson are analyzing
feedback
• PARCC will use feedback in summer planning meetings
to identify lessons learned and issues to fix for next year
• Feedback will be used to inform decisions on the
following:

Technology platform alterations

Administrative portal set-up

Test administration policies and procedures

Direct edits to the test administration manuals and
supporting documents
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Field Test Feedback
• Overall, across PARCC and in New York, the
computer-based field test went smooth with
isolated reports of technology challenges.
• Almost all schools in New York that started the
computer-based field test were able to
complete the test.
• A majority of students responding to the
survey after the PBA field test indicated that
they would prefer to take the test online.
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Districts & Schools are saying…
• The test delivery platform worked. There were glitches,
but not at every school or for every student.
• Time needed to prepare upfront was significant.
• More staff need to be present to support test
administration.
• The field needs clearer documentation, resources, and
training.
• Students need practice with
the
math equation editor.
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Performance-Based Assessment
Student Reported Problems - ELA
6.0%
The computer stopped
working
4.6%
8.0%
31.0%
3.2%
The computer worked
slowly
I had a hard time dragging
or moving things on the
screen
I had a hard time making
changes to my answers
No problems happened
during the test
No Response
47.2%
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Performance-Based Assessment
Student Reported Problems - Math
3.6%
The computer stopped
working
7.7%
4.3%
30.5%
The computer worked
slowly
I had a hard time dragging
13.1% or moving things on the
screen
I had a hard time making
changes to my answers
No problems happened
during the test
No Response
40.9%
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Advice for Preparing for
Computer-Based Testing
• Preparation is the key to success.
• Computer-based testing requires a significant
time commitment from network and
technology staff.
• Teachers and students need to use the
technology and tools all year long to be
comfortable and prepared for CBT.
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Communication is Critical
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
• Important Notices
• Test Administration
Policy
• Test Sessions
Content Filters
Firewalls
Proxies
TestNav
District IT
Communications
Special Alerts
Technology Updates
New Tools
New Processes
Important Notices
LEA
Technology
Staff
LEA & School
Test
Administrators
NYSED &
PARCC
School
Technology
Staff
•
•
•
•
Firewalls
Proctor Caching
TestNav
District IT
Communications
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What’s Coming from PARCC
Diagnostic Assessments
•
•
•
•
Grades 2-8
Reading, Writing, Math
Some computer adaptive subtests
Designed to pinpoint students’
learning needs
Mid-Year/Interim Assessments
•
•
•
•
•
K-1 Formative Tasks
•
•
•
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Grades K-1
Reading and math
Instructionally embedded
performance tasks
Grades 3-11
ELA/Literacy and Math
Paper-based shifting to computer
based
Built from released PBA tasks
Can be used for assessment at
individual, classroom, school levels
Speaking & Listening Tools
•
•
•
Grades K-12
Performance-based activities
Spontaneous oral response to oral
prompt; share findings of research in
an oral presentation
Resources
Available Resources
http://parcc.pearson.com
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PARCC Training Management System
The PARCC Training Management System is where all the training modules
will be located. Go to https://PARCC.pearson.com/TMS to access all training
available.
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PARCC Practice Tests
http://practice.parcc.testnav.com/
Spring 2014 Release
Fall 2014 Release
• Grades 3–11 PerformanceBased Assessment tests for
ELA
• Grades 3–8 End-of-Year
tests for mathematics
• Algebra I, Geometry, and
Algebra II End-of-Year tests
for mathematics
• Grades 3–11 End-of-Year
tests for ELA
• Grades 3–8 PerformanceBased tests for
mathematics
• Algebra I, Geometry, and
Algebra II PerformanceBased tests for
mathematics
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PARCC Resources
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
PARCC Field Test Information

http://www.parcconline.org/field-test
PearsonAccess

http://parcc.pearson.com
Field Test Training Modules

http://parcc.tms.pearson.com
Test Specifications and Blueprints

http://www.parcconline.org/assessment-blueprints-test-specs
PARCC Online Sample Items

http://practice.parcc.testnav.com
PARCC Accessibility Features and Accommodations Manual

http://www.parcconline.org/parcc-accessibility-features-andaccommodations-manual
Model Content Frameworks

www.parcconline.org/parcc-model-content-frameworks
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Jennifer Sattem
PARCC Field Test Lead for NY
jsattem@mail.nysed.gov