PARCC Update

On 3/5/13 the NJ Dept of Ed released a memo - Update on PARCC Development 

There a few things in the memo I wanted to highlight:

There a few new Acronym we all need to familiarize ourselves with....

(PBA) - Performance-based Assessment
(EOY) - End-of-year assessment 
(PLD) - Performance Level Descriptors 
(CCR) - College and Career Ready 

PARCC Assessment Design
As mentioned in my memo to you in January 2013, the PARCC assessments will be
administered in two components:

A performance-based assessment component (PBA) to be administered after
approximately 75% of the school year, and
An end-of-year assessment component (EOY) to be administered after approximately
90% of the school year.

*The PBA & EOY assessments will be combined to determine the students "Summative Score" which will be used for teacher accountability 

More information about the PARCC blueprint, including the number, types, and values of the
items that will appear in each component will be forthcoming this spring. PARCC items and task prototypes are currently available: Link to PARCC Site

Performance Level Descriptors (PLD)
Also, in late 2012, PARCC adopted a framework for reporting student achievement on the
PARCC assessments using five performance levels. (New Jersey currently uses three levels:
Partially Proficient, Proficient and Advanced Proficient.) Although no formal names for the
levels have been adopted, the PLDs will describe the level of command that a student
demonstrates of the knowledge, skills, and practices embodied by the Common Core State
Standards assessed at their grade level, as follows:
Level 5 Distinguished Command
Level 4 Strong Command
Level 3 Moderate Command
Level 2 Partial Command
Level 1 Minimal Command

Please take some time to read the memo, look over the PARCC Site and analyze the sample items and prototypes .   We are all going to have to make changes in the way we teach and administer tests.  

We still don't have all the answers, the only thing we do know is that as of 14-15 SY we will be adminstering the PARCC.............. I Think??????