Field testing for Common Core-aligned assessments developed by the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) and Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium is well under way in schools across the country. Since testing began in late March, millions of students have taken the computer-based assessments in mathematics and English language arts and literacy.
The newly developed exams are designed to align with the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) and better determine students’
progress toward college and career readiness through more complex (and non-multiple choice) items. The massive field test – which will involve students from 36 states – is one of the final stages before the assessments are finalized for schools to use in spring 2015.
Students in grades 3 through 11 will take the field tests through June 6, 2014. The assessments are as much a test for the students as they are for the technology being used. Many districts had to make large technological investments to administer the exams.
There haven’t been major incidents reported, aside from smaller technical glitches for both field test efforts. Smarter Balanced was scheduled to launch its tests on March 18, but delayed it by a week for “quality checking,†according to a spokeswoman.
Two additional consortia are developing similar tests for students with severe cognitive disabilities. Field tests for those assessments are ongoing.
You can keep up with the field testing progress through regular updates from PARCC and Smarter Balanced.
Students aren’t the only ones who can enjoy the testing fun. Put yourself to the test – how would you fare on a practice exam?
Andrea Zimmermann, State Policy Associate