The Transitional Colorado Assessment Program (TCAP) will make its final appearance the week of March 10, but standardized testing is far from gone in Colorado. Come next year, students grades 3-12 will take the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) performance-based assessment (PBA). No longer will juniors and seniors get a week’s worth of half-days, but instead will join the underclassmen in taking standardized tests.
PARCC is a “consortium of 17 states plus D.C. and the U.S. Virgin Islands working together to develop a common set of K-12 assessments in English and math anchored in what it takes to be ready for college and careers,” according to the PARCC website. The program received a $186 million grant through the U.S. Department of Education’s Race to the Top competition to build their program. The test will be administered to 22 million students nationwide.
The PARCC testing program has more benefits than previous statewide standardized tests according to PARCC. The new tests will have “clear information about whether [students] are working at expected levels and are on track for postsecondary success,” according to PARCC’s frequently asked questions. Teacher will also “receive more timely and useful data to help inform instruction,” parents will have “clear and timely information about the progress their children are making,” and states will have “comparable results” due to the multiple states participating in the program.
The program has multiple tests, but only the PBA is required. It covers language, literacy, and mathematics. The test is computer-based with less multiple choice and more interactive and engaging questions. There are also diagnostic assessments in reading, writing and mathematics, a mid-year assessment in ELA/literacy and mathematics, and end-of-year assessments (EOY) in ELA/literacy and math, but these are all optional by each state. A speaking and listening component in ELA/literacy is required but can be assessed at any time in the year. PARCC is trying to challenge advanced students while assess struggling student’s skill fairly through the test. The main purpose of the test is to make sure that students are on track for their future, whether it be in the work-force or college.
The state of Colorado will still administer tests for social studies and science as before, but is developing the program to be computer-based.
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