This year, District 219 and most other Illinois schools are implementing a new standardized test for students: the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC).

According to the PARCC website, “The PARCC tests are high quality, computer-based K–12 assessments in mathematics and English language arts/literacy. They are carefully crafted to give teachers, schools, students, and parents better and more useful information on how we’re preparing our kids for their futures. The PARCC assessments will be ready for states to administer during the 2014-15 school year.”

To break this down:

First, 12 states across the country, including Illinois, have began to implement the PARCC test into the state standard for schools. This means that the schools in these 12 states are required to give the PARCC test in order to meet the requirement of their state’s federal education standard.

Second, the PARCC test is more of a series of computer-based tests that are taken multiple times during the school year. These tests are used to track students’ educational growth and make sure they are on the path towards college and career readiness. The plan for the PARCC test is to have kindergarteners through seniors in high school taking this test every year. Schools are expected to make time for these tests in their schedules.

Third, not only will the schools who are giving the tests be able to see the PARCC results and judge students’ education path, but state colleges will also be able to view the results and use them for admission purposes.

Starting next week, Niles North students will take the first part of the PARCC exam. On Tuesday, March 17, students at Niles North who are enrolled in a junior level English course will be taking the English portion of the PARCC exam. Then, on Thursday, March 19, students enrolled in Algebra II will take part in the mathematics portion of the PARCC exam.

Then, in April, students will take the second portion of the PARCC exam. On April 29, students enrolled in Algebra II will take the second part of the mathematics PARCC exam; and on May 1, students in junior level English courses with take the second part of the English PARCC exam.

The PARCC testing will take roughly 11.5 hours next week, in which students will be cycled through three English language/literacy tests and two mathematics tests.

D219 has replaced the Prairie State Achievement Exam (PSAE) as well as the Illinois Standards Achievement Test (ISAT) with the PARCC test. However, they will continue to issue the EXPLORE, PLAN, iACT and ACT standardized assessments for students.

For more information on the PARCC exam at Niles North, click here.

Though there have been a lot of controversial points made by students, teachers, parents, and people in general, state education boards refuse to listen to the complaints and concerns, and PARCC testing will continue to be implemented throughout the United States.

Good luck to the students taking the PARCC exam next week at Niles North!