PARCC “On Time, On Task”

PARCC chiefs held a conference call Monday to share important updates on PARCC state participation and key areas of the consortium’s progress (see EdWeek coverage here). Laura Slover and Margaret Horn followed up with advocacy and policy partners today.  The message was “PARCC is on time, on task,” and 14 states and the District of Columbia have committed to field-testing the assessment in the spring of 2014.

That level of commitment doesn’t include once PARCC strongholds Florida or Kentucky. This week, Indiana and Pennsylvania joined Georgia, Oklahoma, and Utah as former PARCC states (some have formally resigned, others are watching and waiting).  That makes about a dozen states going their own way–more fall out than I had anticipated but not necessarily a bad thing.  It will reduce comparability but could create a stronger market for assessment innovation.

Last week PARCC Unveiled Pricing that was higher than some of us anticipated. The calls this week clarified that the $29.50 is a conservative estimate.  However, the loss of a handful of states won’t help on pricing–particularly for states planning a year or two of paper and pencil scoring.

Rhode Island chief stressed that PARCC is producing “tests worth taking,” high quality assessments aligned with Common Core State Standards.  Slover stressed PARCC’s focus on “items that test conceptual understanding and bridge to post-secondary education.”