http://youtu.be/oN3QNuMfTrU
There has been a lot of debate over PARCC testing and its implications, specifically on how the test could affect a student’s ability to graduate with a diploma.
Leighann Lenti, Deputy Secretary of the New Mexico Public Education Department, says passing a test in order to show competency is part of New Mexico State Law.
“So state law, since 2008,” Lenti said. “Has mandated both course and competency requirements for graduation, and competency requirements are for 5 content areas, not just for PARCC tests. PARCC is just used to meet the competency requirements, initially, in 2 of the 5 content areas. So, this is something that has been in state law since 2008.”
Lenti says if students do not pass the PARCC test, they can apply for an Alternate Demonstration of Competency or ADC to show they are at grade level. But, students must attempt the PARCC test twice before moving to the ADC.
“Under our previous standardized test, the SBA, students had three chances to demonstrate competency,” Lenti said. “To show that they had met grad requirements in math and reading. So they could take the assessment in grades 10 and 11, and then they had a make up opportunity in grade 12 if they still had not shown that they were on grade level. And with PARCC, we are asking students to attempt the 11th grade assessment. And then have the opportunity for a 12th grade retest if they need it before they move on to that ADC.”
However, Tim Hand, Director of Assessment, Analysis and Research for Las Cruces Public Schools says information they received from the New Mexico Public Education Department says the test must be attempted 3 times before qualifying for the ADC.
“Las Cruces Public Schools says we follow PED guidance,” Hand said. “We basically administer the exams using the guidance from the Public Education Department. Here’s what our guidance has been, students must attempt the test, depending on the subject level, for both English and Mathematics they must attempt the test three times, and if they haven’t passed it within those three times then the district can jump in to the Alternate Demonstration of Competency.”
Hand says the district fills out a waiver for the state if a student wants to use the ADC, and part of the waiver asks if the student has attempted the PARCC test three times. It is then left up to the district to determine how the Alternate Demonstration of Competency is measured.
“We gathered a team of teachers, and principals, and administrators and we came up with a rubric of sorts,” Hand said. “One of the big things it takes into account was how close were they to the cut score, are we talking just a few points were they way off, we take into account final exam scores for the subject matter, we look at ACT scores, college and career readiness indicators, and it actually goes down to the granular amount, so we can actually gather up a portfolio of student work, and have a team at the school take a look and see if the student can demonstrate competence in other ways then a standardized assessment.”
Lenti says students have to attempt the PARCC test more than once because it is a better way to show a student is ready to graduate.
“It is the most accurate and objective way to measure if our students have mastered the high school content,” Lenti said. “Regardless of what school or district the student comes from. Alternate demonstrations of competency or ADC’s may actually be more of a patchwork look at a students competency, but there is a risk that the results won’t be as accurate or comprehensive as something like the PARCC assessment.”
Del Hansen, a part- time teacher in Las Cruces, disagrees and says the PARCC tests do not offer a comprehensive view of a student’s abilities.
“The best way to evaluate a student is to allow the professional who is teaching them on a day-to-day basis test them,” Hansen said. “If the district wants to come up with a test that is created by teachers in that district, and who provide the parents with instantaneous feedback within days of taking the test, that’s the way you do it. You don’t take a 40 or 50 million dollar test and send it off to be graded to get the results months and months later when the student’s aren’t even with that teacher anymore.”
Lenti says passing the test along with the other graduation requirements demonstrate a student is ready to move onto college or a career.
“On an annual basis New Mexico as a state is spending over $20 million on remedial courses,” Lenti said. “49% of our students are going on to post-secondary institutes whether they be 2 or 4 year colleges having graduated high school and being told they’re ready, and then they are getting there, and they are actually having to take remedial courses before they can even start getting credit towards a degree. So, I think that these graduation requirements are a really important step in better preparing our students for success.”
Hansen says he doesn’t think the test will show whether or not a student is ready to enter college.
“The PARCC Test will have absolutely nothing to do with the number of students graduating that are going to be college ready,” Hansen said. “What the PARCC test does is evaluate teachers based on common core, which has not been implemented in most of the grades in the schools. It’s testing over material that has not been taught.”
