Need help figuring out what your child's scores mean? Here's an explainer.
TRENTON -- After months of controversy, and even more months waiting, New Jersey parents this month are finally finding out how their kids did on the PARCC tests they took last spring.
But what should parents make of the data?
Below, we've answered some of the most common questions parents have been asking. Start with the background of PARCC or click on one of the following topics to jump into the specifics.
Background | Understanding the scores| PARCC and graduation | What's next? |
Background
What is PARCC?
The PARCC tests are math and English exams named after a consortium of states that designed and administered a common set of assessments for grades 3-11.
More than 20 states were initially in the consortium -- called the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers -- but some decided to join a different testing group or create their own exams. In 2014-15, New Jersey was among 11 states and the District of Columbia that gave the PARCC exams.
Why did New Jersey use a new test?
State education officials have said they wanted an improvement over New Jersey's prior exams.
They said the test given to younger students, the New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge, identified students who were struggling but didn't provide enough information about what skills those students hadn't mastered. The test also did not draw much distinction between average and high-performing students, according to the state Department of Education.
The test for high school students, the High School Proficiency Assessment, tested material mostly learned in eighth or ninth grade, but students did not take the exams until they were juniors, according to the state.
The PARCC exams for high school students are given in the same year students take the course.
Understanding the scores
There are a lot of different numbers on the score report. Which one is the most important?
The number you are probably most interested in is on a scale of 1-5, called your child's "performance level." That tells you whether your child is meeting the grade-level expectations set by the PARCC states.
Students who scored a four or five are meeting or exceeding those expectations.
So, how many questions did my child get right or wrong?
PARCC didn't release that. The scoring was more complex than simply "right" or "wrong."
On some questions, even students with the best grasp on the skill being tested weren't expected to earn all of the points. On other questions, students from two or three performance levels might all have been expected to get the same number of points.
Why are test scores lower on PARCC? Fewer students scored on grade-level on PARCC than NJ ASK or HSPA, but the tests can't be directly compared. PARCC tests were designed to be more challenging and states expected that fewer students would hit the benchmarks.
My child has always done well in school, but now the PARCC report says they are a in performance level three or "approaching expectations." What does that mean?
Don't panic.
David Hespe, New Jersey's education commissioner, has said that students who earned a four or five are those the state can say with confidence are meeting grade-level expectations.
Students who scored a three could be considered border line. Some of them probably are on track, but others might have some catching up to do. Between 20 percent and 30 percent of students in New Jersey scored a three on each of the tests.
"We will look at grade point averages," Hespe said. "We will see a sequencing of the PARCC moving forward to give us a better comfort level that maybe some of those students in level three really are college or career ready."
Does my child's PARCC score really matter?
Not in terms of their report card or passing to the next grade level. But state education officials do think it's a more accurate measure of whether students are college and career ready.
However, the state has stressed that PARCC is just one measure of a student's academic progress.
"Ultimately, PARCC is just a test," Hespe said.
What about the opt-outs? How did they affect scores?
It's hard to say with certainty, but state officials believe the overall state results were not skewed by test refusals. However, the comparison of your child's score to others in their district could be affected if there were a lot of opt-outs in your town.
PARCC and graduation
Does my child need to pass PARCC in order to graduate?
No. Students can use their scores on the PARCC exams to meet New Jersey's graduation requirements, but there are other ways to fulfill those requirements. Students can use their SAT or ACT scores, scores on other standardized tests or a portfolio review process.
If my child wants to use PARCC scores to fulfill graduation requirements, what scores do they need?
Students need to hit a target score on at least one math and one English exam during their high school years -- or on the algebra I test if they take it before high school.
In math, students can fulfill graduation requirements with a 750 or better on the algebra I exam or a 725 or higher on either the Algebra II or geometry exam.
For English, the state will accept a score of 750 or above on the ninth or tenth grade test and a score of 725 or better on the 11th grade exam.
So, students who do well on PARCC can fulfill their graduation requirements during ninth or 10th grade?
You got it.
What's next?
Is New Jersey using PARCC again this year?
Yes. Students in high schools with block scheduling have already participated in testing.
Will testing take as long?
No. The test administration has been streamlined.
Where can I get more information?
If you have questions, you can ask your child's teacher. Many districts are also holding information nights to help parents understand PARCC scores.
Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.
