Mercedes Schneider read the 128-page report on the future of the federally funded testing consortium called PARCC. It was launched, along with the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium, by Arne Duncan, who gave the two $360 million to write Common Core-aligned tests. PARCC has had a hard time, however. It started with 24 member states, and now it is down to six states and D.C.
It put out a call to other testing companies and interested parties, asking for advice. Mercedes read the advice and she shares it here with you.
Will the last state in PARCC remember to turn out the lights when you leave?
Diane Ravitch's blog 
I will be more than happy to write PARCC’s obituary, if I knew it would hasten its demise. Likewise with SLO’s.
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PARCC has been an administrative mess from the get go–from the first proposal to USDE on what it would do, to the managers Achieve selected, to the whole state “consortium” idea itself.
It is amazing that SBAC has survived, is financially self-sustaining, and likely the only outfit standing with some claim to “authority” as the testing service provider for the Common Core.
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I am surprised that the role of the USDOE in coercing the use of a de-facto Common Core curriculum, via test score pressures, has never been challenged on a constitutional basis. Advocates will proclaim that they are “standards” – targets or goals or destinations – not required pathways. However the very prescriptive nature of the CCSS belies this claim, as does the embrace of EngageNY scripted lessons by so many.
http://www.petition2congress.com/15080/stop-common-core-testing
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The same argument could have been made for NCLB, ie. that all the testing represents federal overreach. Prior to NCLB, we did sample standardized testing on grades 3, 6 and 8 in NY, I believe. Students in compensatory areas such as reading and ESL were given annual tests, but these tests were not the type of time wasters that grew exponentially as they did after NCLB.
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NCLB should have been ruled “unconstitutional” because it was a law that set requirements that were literally impossible for schools to meet.
How can a law that cannot be followed possibly be legal.
Example:
All drivers commuting across the George Washington Bridge must not exceed the speed limit of 0 mph. Any “speeders” will be ticketed and fined!
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Using PARRC as a HS graduation test will produce some amazing miracles. Just like The New York Common Core miracle. Pass rates in ELA and math have hovered around
33% in grades 3 to 8 for four years now. The New York miracle has turned that abysmal rate upside down in high school algebra I (grade 9) and ELA (grade 11). Over 70% passing on HS Common Core tests required for graduation.
The New York Miracle – courtesy of the psycho-magicians at NYSED!
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Since New Jersey is still part of PARCClandia, maybe some readers will know something about Rutgers University’s “Collaborative School Leadership Initiative” (somehow connected to TURN –Teachers Union Reform Network), brought to us by —oh you know who pays for this kind of thing—–why can’t these billionaires just spend their cash on solid gold houses and rocket cars? Any info (especially first hand) on these efforts to reform (co-opt?) local unions would be very helpful. Thanks!
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I suspect the last ones out will be us in Maryland. Former State Superintendent (and Broad grad – https://educationalchemy.com/2013/12/31/maryland-parcc-and-common-core-dr-lowery-and-the-tangled-web-of-corporate-interest/ ) Lillian Lowery made us the”PARCC fiscal agent,” and now that we have the Dynamic Duo (of Denial?) of Smarick & Finn, I don’t see us leaving the remains of the Consortium any time soon. sigh
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Reblogged this on David R. Taylor-Thoughts on Education.
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NJ will stick with it until Christie is gone. We can only hope it is to prison.
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This is very interesting. What will be used instead of PARCC? Our Superintendent is talking about MAP by NWEA a lot. Curious what educators think about MAP.
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