Massachusetts Standards & Assessments OLD TEST VS NEW TEST In spring 2015, roughly half of Massachusetts school districts chose to take a new state assessment that, like the learning standards adopted in 2010, challenge students to think deeply, write often and defend their reasoning — all “real world” skills they need The new assessment is called PARCC, the Partnership for the Assessment of Readiness for College and Career, and covers math and English Language Arts in grades 3 through high school. The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will decide in fall 2015 whether to replace the 7-year old MCAS with PARC. Here's how Massachusetts old and new state assessments compare. MCAS Outdated Designed in the mid to late-1990's, remains virtually unchanged since 1998. Not designed to Indicate readiness for college and career, Rarely measures students’ deeper learning Questions typically focused on comprehension and information recall rather than conceptual understanding Does not fully reflect state learning standards to measure college and career ‘When standards and assessments do not align, test prep can encroach on instructional time. High school test sets too low a bar MCAS high school tests measure content no higher than the end of tenth grade standards; a large proportion of the items on recent L0th grade Math {ests measure sixth, seventh, or eighth grade standards Fails to deliver honest measures of whether students are on track for college and career Unaligned across grade levels MCAS tests are not connected aeross grade levels; tae means a Profiefent score in grade 4 may not ‘mean a student ison track to meet that in grade 8. High school assessments not used for placement Massachusetts high school students now take an additional, separate test to determine their placement in postsecondary courses, PARCC Modern, upgrade Designed beginning in 2011, this next generation assessment is designed to measure college- and career-readiness, and leverages (echnology to assess a broader set of knowledge and skills ‘Measures critical thinking and problem solving Questions require students to handle complex material, support arguments with evidence, and explain reasoning when solving problems, Reflects current learning standards to measure college and career readiness ‘The Massachusets Curriculum Frameworks make clear what students should know and be abe to do at every step in their academic progression toward college and career readiness. These are the root ofthe new assessments Sets a high bar for learning ‘The series of ninth through eleventh grade high school tests enable PARC to assess a wide depth and breadth of content. Math tests ‘require students to apply skills, concepts, and understandings to solve multi-step problems requiring abstract reasoning, precision, perseverance, and strategic use of tools. Will be aligned with the expectations of two- and four- year colleges and validated by higher education Aligns across grade levels to track a student's progress The new assessment system spans grades Uree through eleven to reflect te progression of skills and knowledge needed 0 be college and careor ready. High school assessments used for college placement Massachusetts public colleges and universities plan to use PARCC scores for purposes of college placement. This means that students need not take remedial courses if they demonstrate appropriate level of mastery, Massachusetts EMSRS Alliance ‘forichusetts Standards FACTS VS MYTHS MYTH #1: Common Core State Standards (CSS) are national standards being imposed on states by federal mandate, FACT: The CCSS were developed at the initiative of states in a process facilitated by the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers that involved no federal funds, Participation was voluntary and Massachusetts educators provided significant input ‘The US, Department of Education made college and career ready standards a requirement for eligibility for Race to the ‘Top funding, but states had other options to demonstrate ‘meeting that benchmark, MYTH #2: ccss are “dumbing down” standards in Massachusetts. FACT: ‘there is greater emphasis on critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical writing, skils required to ‘meet college and career expectations. A independent study and extensive educator comment confirmed close alignment, and equal igor between proposed Massachusetts standards and the Common Core. MYTH #3: The math standards do not enable students to take Algebra 1 until 9th grade and provide no pathway to Calculus. FACT: While the standards align Algebra 1 with 9th grade, districts can offer the course to any students ready to take it in 8th geade, The MA Curriculum Frameworks for math include advanced courses such as pre-calculus and advanced quantitative reasoning. ‘The Department of Elementary and Secondary Educ fovides sample pathways on its website for students to complete an accelerated track and prepare for college level STEM courses. Data from 2009 through 2013 shows an inerease in students taking calculus and a significant increase in low-income students taking Advanced Placement calculus courses. MYTH #4: Poetry is not included in Common Core State Standards. FACT: Poetry appears in the English Language Arts (ELA) ‘Common Core standards throughout the grade levels. Texts are not proscribed, giving teachers the flexibility (0 use poetry for any standard in which the term “tex” is used, Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks for ELA provide lists of suggested, but not required, poems and poets for students to study. (Sues CCSS takes away local control. are clear goals and expectations of what students should know and be able to do at the end of each ‘grade. Specific curriculum, or how students are taught, are left to the states and school districts just as decisions about instruction remain up to the teachers, 70% of teachers who have received ‘raining in the standards agree that these will help their students, seceed (Teach PhuyMTA), MYTH #6: Massachusetts students score at the ‘top in the nation so we don’t need to change course. FACT: Massachusetts students may fare well on current standardized tests, but too many students are graduating from high school unprepared for collegeand the workforce. Thirty seven percent of our public high school graduates, enteringa Massachusetts public college or university will take at least one non-credit bearing remedial course in math or English, ‘That number is 65% for community colleges. And, 69% of Massachusetts employers surveyed say they cannot, find candidates with the right skills to fill obs. New high quality assessments like PARC that are aligned! with the standards are designed to provide clearer signals about stulents' readiness for the next grade level and, in high school, readiness for college and careers. Bach of Massachusetts’ public ‘two-year and four-year colleges and universities have committed to use student performance on the PARCC tests as an indicator of stuclents’ readiness for entry-level creit- bearing college course. MYTH #7: The PARCC test is being developed with no Input from teachers. FACT: Thousands of teachers from Kindergarten through ‘twelfth grade and higher education, including many from ‘Massachusetts, have been involved in the development of the PARCCassessment. The involvement of educators is expected to lead to more authentic assessments that area better reflection of what Massachusetts students are learning in the classroom. MYTH #8: PARCC will enable the collection of student Information for a national database. FACT: States have contro! of all student data, and states and districts cannot and will not sell student information as, prohibited by federal laws like the Family Educational Rights, and Privacy Act (FERPA), In addition, at least four federal Jaws prohibit the creation of a federal database with students’ personally identifiable information, Tne, 2000