State Board approves threshold scores on new PARCC assessment

This past spring, District 88, along with school districts throughout Illinois, implemented a new state assessment called the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) exam. Primarily freshmen (members of the class of 2018) were tested. As District 88 has previously shared with stakeholders, those online assessments are aligned to the new Illinois learning standards in English Language Arts (ELA) and math and are designed to ensure each student is not only prepared for the next grade level, but also is on track for postsecondary success. The PARCC system places a greater emphasis on academic rigor, critical thinking, problem solving and college and career readiness for all students.

The Illinois State Board of Education (ISBE) recently released the performance-level threshold scores for the PARCC assessment given to students last spring, and those results can be viewed at http://www.isbe.net/news/2015/sept16.htm. At this time, individual school and district data is not available. We anticipate receiving that information later in the fall, and we will continue to communicate with our stakeholders and share those results.

The initial score results are simply a new baseline from which we will move forward. While the scores might appear lower than what educators and families typically expect, the PARCC assessment sets new goals for our students, using higher expectations. Lower proficiency scores do not mean our schools are performing worse or that students are learning less or are not as capable. The change is simply a reflection of how statewide assessments have evolved to meet higher standards that promote college and career readiness in the 21st century for all students.

It also is important to remember the PARCC exam results cannot be compared to test scores from the state’s previous assessments. The PARCC exam is a drastically different test that uses extended tasks and technology-enhanced items to more accurately measure students’ critical thinking, problem solving and writing skills – which are necessary for students to succeed in their education and career field after high school. We expect results to improve as the higher standards become more familiar.

All District 88 juniors also take the ACT assessment. According to the ACT College Readiness standard, 41 percent of Illinois high school students from the class of 2015 are “College Ready” in math, and 63 percent of Illinois high school students from the class of 2015 are “College Ready” in English. Those numbers are on par with the national College Readiness percentages of 42 percent in math and 64 percent in English.

The PARCC exam is one tool we use to measure student progress, but test results alone do not tell the whole story of student and school success. We will continue to monitor individual student growth to ensure all students are reaching their full potential inside the classroom and beyond. We will continue to keep you updated regarding the PARCC exam and other state-level initiatives, and we appreciate your support in accomplishing our mission of working for the continuous improvement of student achievement.