Analysis: Last school year, ‘14-’15, was the first year Illinois implemented the PARCC assessment. Its results were used as a baseline to understand student performance; students in grades 3-8, as well as high school freshmen, took the test in varying testing windows, a Performance Based Assessment (PBA) and an End of Year Assessment (EOY). After its first year of implementation, there will be many new changes to the test and its administration:

• Test results and student performance will be available to schools and families in the fall

• Families will receive score reports and be able to compare individual student scores to that of student averages from their school, as well as schools and districts in the state.

• Test administration windows will be shorter. Instead of 2 testing times, the test will be administered 1 time with a 30 day window.

• Testing time will be reduced by 90 minutes. The same skills will be tested but just with fewer questions.This length reduction is in response to parent, student, and teacher feedback regarding the extensive instructional time missed from testing. http://www.isbe.net/news/2015/may21.htm

• PARCC can be used to determine class placement and may serve as a college entrance assessment come Spring 2016.

• PARCC will include a Science component to the test which will align to NGSS, nationally recognized science standards.

Easy to read infographic on the proposed changes:

http://www.isbe.net/assessment/pdfs/2015/parcc/parcc-test-design-change-graphic0515.pdf

Research and Implications for ELA/Teachers:

ELA teachers will still be required to administer the test. ELA teachers should communicate with administrators regarding school’s policy in administering the test and how it will be used, especially in regards to student placement in courses and teacher evaluation.