Most schools are now preparing their students for national standardized testing or also known as the PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers). Amidst controversies, most schools encourage students to do well in the annual statewide assessment testing.
The Telegraph reports on how the different schools prepare the students for the PARCC, statewide assessment testing. For the past year, the PARCC testing is bombarded with controversies. Despite this, local school administrators have learned to accept the inevitable. Instead of going against the rule, they have learned how to make the best out of it.
How many states are throwing over PARCC or Smarter Balanced for another test this year? See our national chart: https://t.co/2vXnJiIq0I
— Education Week (@educationweek) March 28, 2016
Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers
Chronicle explains that PARCC is state-mandated testing of the Common Core standards given to third and eight graders. This new standardized testing has replaced the traditional paper-based tests to an online-based test in the hopes of making it easier for students and evaluators. The Telegraph states that schools have a three-month window to complete the tests.
The Illinois State Board of Education estimated that around 85 percent of the 1 million Illinois students took the PARCC tests online. They expect the same rate this year.
PARCC will give educators a better view on what should be included in the curriculum to prepare students for college, and later on, for their career. It takes at least seven years to make a comparative study, and since it just launched last year, it is still too early to make conclusions.
Trimpe Middle School, Bethalto
School administrators in Trimpe Middle School encouraged their students to take a good night's rest and eat a good breakfast before the start of the examinations. In an unusual move from the administrators, they decided to give students a break and arranged a day of fun and games. Principal Wilks hopes that students will feel a little relaxed before the examinations begin. This is also one way of appreciating the efforts made by the students to prepare for the PARCC.
Just like the majority of the schools, Bethalto School District will take their tests online. The school has a one-on-one ratio in terms of students and individual laptops. School administrators are confident that students are equipped with the skills to manipulate the online tools.
However, other school districts like Alton will be taking it the traditional way, believing that students will do better this way. There are reports claiming that paper-based results were better than online test results. Last year, the school also opted to have paper-based exams.
Aside from PARCC, some schools have their own testing programs to gauge students' learning. To know more about PARCC, check out the video below.
