On Wednesday, January 21st at 6:30pm at the Batchelder School cafeteria and on Thursday, January 22nd, at 6:30pm in the Distance Learning Lab at the North Reading High School we will present an informational forum for parents about next generation testing. In 2015-16 Massachusetts districts had the choice to preview the PARCC assessment or to remain with MCAS for one more year. In 2016 and beyond the state will either adopt PARCC or create a next-generation MCAS to replace the current system.
As you are aware, North Reading is among the more than 50% of districts who are test-driving the PARCC assessment in the Spring of 2015. This test will be computer-based at the Batchelder School for grades 3, 4, and 5 and paper-based at those grades at the Little and Hood schools for both English Language Arts (ELA) and Mathematics. The Middle School will utilize the PARCC assessment in grades 6-8 for ELA and Mathematics.
At the high school, the 9th grade students taking Algebra I will be taking the PARCC assessment this spring as well.
During this “test drive” year 10th grade students will continue to take MCAS, as will students taking the 5th and 8th grade Science assessment. Biology students will also take the MCAS exam for that subject area as well. Students who traditionally take the alternative MCAS test will continue to take that exam in the spring of 2015.
North Reading has aligned it’s curriculum and courses with the 2011 Massachusetts frameworks and we are looking forward to this “test drive” of PARCC as we look to see if this new assessment truly measures the standards in a way that provides meaningful feedback to our students and educators.
We look forward to answering questions and exploring the next generation assessments together!
