The testing window for the second portion of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessment starts May 11th and ends May 14th, concluding Illinois' inaugural administration of this new state-of-the-art exam focused on real-world application and college and career readiness.
The PARCC assessment is divided into two parts that measure different kinds of knowledge and skills. Illinois students are now taking the second part, the End-of-Year (EOY) exam. The EOY consists of computer-based, multiple -choice questions and is given when about 90 percent of instruction is complete. State schools (LCHS included) administered the first part of the PARCC exam, the Performance-Based Assessment (PBA), back in March and early April. The PBA is longer than the EOY and is given when about 75 percent of instruction was completed and includes more extended tasks and writing exercises. The PBA and EOY are two parts of the same test, which together require students to demonstrate critical thinking, reasoning and writing skills. The PBA and EOY will result in one score that will help educators and parents know how well each student is meeting the new and more rigorous Illinois Learning Standards in English language arts and math and their emphasis on mastering concepts and applying knowledge. The PARCC summative assessment measures whether or not students can demonstrate that they've met grade level standards in English language arts and math as the year comes to a close and if they can be deemed proficient in those content areas. In late fall, families will have access to reports on the initial PARCC assessment results about student performance on each portion of the assessment. This year’s results are expected to take additional time to produce than previous state tests or future PARCC results because classroom teachers and higher education content experts from each state, including Illinois, must review the first year of student scores. These experts will then establish the appropriate score range used to set performance levels on a scale of one to five. These performance levels will show how well students are meeting grade level expectations and, ultimately, if they’re on track to meet “college and career ready,” standards. In subsequent years, those results will be available in a timelier manner to direct intervention and support as needed. Earlier this spring, Illinois community college presidents agreed to use PARCC assessment results to determine a student’s readiness for college-level courses. This means students who earn certain scores can be placed directly into classes that earn credit toward their college degree without spending extra time and money on other placement exams or remedial courses. Please contact the LCHS Guidance Office with any questions. Comments are closed.
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