Meet PARCC, The Test Which Could (Mostly) Replace FCAT

Background

CCSSToolbox.com

An example of an interactive question which could appear on the PARCC exam.

Florida is the lead state in a consortium that will develop and implement new assessments for Common Core standards known as PARCC.

PARCC is the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers.

The work is being funded through a Race to the Top grant.

The Race to the Top Assessment program granted two awards in 2010. One is for PARCC.

The other grant is funding new assessments being developed by the Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium.

PARCC tests should be ready for full implementation by the 2014-15 school year.

A news release from the U.S. Department of Education explains what PARCC will do:

The PARCC coalition will test students’ ability to read complex text, complete research projects, excel at classroom speaking and listening assignments, and work with digital media. PARCC will also replace the one end-of-year high stakes accountability test with a series of assessments throughout the year that will be averaged into one score for accountability purposes, reducing the weight given to a single test administered on a single day, and providing valuable information to students and teachers throughout the year.

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