'Take Back the PARCC' event to raise awareness of controversial standardized test
The fight against the PARCC testing system is still rippling throughout New Jersey as the exam period enters its last week on Monday, with the largest district in Gloucester County set to bring even more awareness to the controversial test on Thursday, March 26.
The Washington Township Education Association and Washington Township School Support Staff Professional Association will hold a "Take Back the PARCC" event at Rowan College at Gloucester County at 7 p.m. in the Instructional Center, in an effort to spread the word about how PARCC will impact students, staff, parents and the statewide educational system as a whole.
The event -- aimed at parents, teachers, school board members, legislators and taxpayers from throughout the area -- fill focus on the high stakes associated with the test as well as a look at exactly how the computer-based exam works.
"This test differs vastly from other tests," said NJEA Communications Director Kathryn Coulibaly at a similar forum about PARCC held in February. "We certainly have a point of view, but we want people to see for themselves."
Issues with the test, ranging from the impact a high percentage of students opting out will have on federal and state funding to the big bills districts have piled up preparing for the exam, have spurred legislative attempts to curb its impact as well as grassroots organizing against it.
A representative from one of those organizations, Susan Cauldwell from Save Our Schools, will be on hand at the Thursday Take Back the PARCC event as well.
Washington Township Board of Education President Ginny Murphy has said the implementation of the exam as well as the Common Core curriculum it's tied to has already cost the district $5 million, and they're concerned about the sustainability of the expense.
"These are not one-time costs," said Murphy at the Februrary PARCC event. "Technology is constantly changing. That's a permanent increase to our budget. I think 'Take Back the PARCC' event to raise awareness of controversial standardized test | NJ.com:
