The Problem with PARCCThe PARCC Tests are a poorly designed new wave of standardized tests. With the potential graduation requirement that has been created with little research and knowledge of the capacity of the students taking the test is it nothing but faulty. The design being all electronic requires ample amount of costly new computers that districts are expected to purchase, when many times students are not at the learning level to type or problem solve on the online software. Because state governments and educators were not involved enough in the creation process the date of the testing and amount of time to complete was not reasonable. With no definite answer on the longevity of the test no one can predict the full burden it will cause on society. If the test is no longer national, due to the large number of states that have stepped out, why must we continue preparing for a test that has no hope of success?
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Test is costly |
PARCC is one of the 2 multi-state consortia that received $350
million in federal funds to develop tests that would be used to measure attainment of the Common Core State Standards. But even so,
this is not enough to initiate the process. For example, Bernards Township School district received $57,590 from the State of New Jersey to purchase the necessary technical capacity to administer the tests. But the actual cost was $235,000 for wireless infrastructure upgrades in Bernard’s Township. Another $27,000 for bandwidth
capacity upgrade and finally $665,000 for the 1,600 test taking devices
(Chromebooks) that were purchased. This
comes to a grand total of $927,000. All of this money is going to benefit
publishing companies like Pearson to create a monopoly over the education
system.
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Test is difficult |
These tests are not suited for the students that are
required to take them. In New York State
only 30% of students passed the new math and reading tests, this only raises
questions of the credibility of the test. And this credibility is useless: in
all, there were 135 people on the review panels for the Common Core. Not a
single one of them was a K–3 classroom teacher or early childhood professional.
Parents were entirely missing. K–12 educators were mostly brought in after the
fact to tweak and endorse the standards—and lend legitimacy to the
results. This was not made in accordance
to who would actually have to take the test.
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Wastes Time |
The test takes too much time away from the classroom and has the
potential to be a graduation requirement: The PBA and EOY assessment require 8 hours of testing per elementary
school student and that escalates to 10 hours per student in High School. To fit it in the schedule half days must be put in place, which only reduces AP
Preparation time for the older students.
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Test is disliked |
PARCC is opposed by the people that actually have to take
the test: A survey by the NJ Principals
and Supervisors Association - 80% of the people had technology issues in the
PARCC field testing. Which leads to 90% of the participants anxious about
future testing. With this feeling more and more parents are deciding to let
their children opt out or miss school the day of the exam.
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