Partnership of Assessment for Readiness for College and Career (PARCC)

In September of 2016 we mailed home the “Individual Student Reports.”  These reports include the results of the assessments students completed during the spring of 2016.  We are very proud of the effort demonstrated by our students and staff!  We consider this information baseline data, as the PARCC shifted from two tests in 2015 to one test in 2016.

While students who refused to take the test did not count as a “zero” for our overall district score, their refusal likely impacted our overall results. For example, had these students participated, our overall percentage of students who were proficient may have been higher. We did not meet the requirement of having 95% of our students participate, which may result in a district audit and/or may impact future funding. More about the impact on our system may be forthcoming.  

Future PARCC data will provide a more accurate picture of performance. We will continue to use other measures, such as the Measure of Academics Progress (MAP) test, to gauge student achievement and growth as it pertains to the Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

We have provided the links below as a means of helping you understand this new assessment and information. If you have any questions, please contact your building administrators.

Score Report Interpretation Guide For Parents

A comprehensive guide was developed by the PARCC organization to help parents read the new Individual Student Reports and understand the scores.  Visit this website and scroll to the "Resources" section of the page to locate the guide.

March 2016

Dear Skokie District 73.5 Parents and Caregivers,

Our spring PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career) testing is scheduled for April. Preparations are well underway, and we are looking forward to learning more about your child’s progress towards the CCSS (Common Core State Standards) in the areas of English language arts and math. More information about exact testing dates at Middleton and McCracken is being shared via our school Weeklies and websites. 

We’d like to take this opportunity to share some factual information regarding this state and federally required test.

In 2015, we had several students in specific grade levels refuse to take the test. While students who refused to take the test did not count as a “zero” for our overall district score, their refusal likely impacted our overall results. For example, had these students participated, our overall percentage of students who were proficient may have been higher.

As a result of these refusals, our district did not meet the requirement of having 95% of our students participate. We are one of eight districts in suburban Cook County who did not meet the 95% requirement. It is notable that of those eight only three are elementary districts, and that there are approximately 125 elementary districts in suburban Cook County. We have received an official letter of notice from state Superintendent Dr. Tony Smith which indicated that our district is now open to an inquiry process. This may involve gathering evidence and testimony from members of the school community including administrators, teachers, parents, community group leaders, and even students, if appropriate. Unfortunately this means time away from supporting the learning of all students. 

This year, we are hopeful that we will be able to reach a minimum participation rate of 95% of our 3rd-8th grade students completing both the English language arts and math assessments. This will ensure our valuable resources continue to support all students. Additionally, in the coming years PARCC will provide useful information about student progress towards CCSS.

For more information please visit www.parcconline.org if you would like to learn more about the PARCC assessment.

Each day, our teachers, administrators, and other staff come to work at our schools to ensure student learning and growth. We see our students as much more than a score, placing their learning and individual selves first and foremost. Thank you for partnering with us in our shared goal.

Respectfully,
The District Administrative Team