PARCC is CCRAP spelled backwards - The Plagued Parent

PARCC is CCRAP spelled backwards - The Plagued Parent:
PARCC is CCRAP spelled backwards

As of Fall 2014 a new standardized test is to be implemented in the District of Columbia and 12 states, including my home state of Rhode Island. This new test has the dubious title of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness For College and Careers (PARCC) and it sits at the center of a perfect storm brewing between states, the US Department of Education, testing and publishing companies and the Gates Foundation’s Complete College America initiative.

Ok, (deep breath), before I go any further let’s get some disclosures out of the way. This blog is a joint effort between my wife, Christina and myself. While she does write some posts her job seems to be predominantly social media guru and editor-in-chief. I prefer to just write. Often she suggests topics to keep the rotation of posts “fresh”. Today’s direction is supposed to encompass the topic of parenting. She suggested that I focus on the PARCC, but followed up with saying, “Don’t be preachy.” In other words I have to watch overloading on the stats and try to calm the f*&@k down.

Problem is… I can’t.

This topic infuriates me. First, I am not against testing as a means of assessment. However, my questions are as follows: Is this the right metric to implement? What will we gain from analysis of the data from that metric? How will those results assist in teaching and learning? How does the data help in enhancing student achievement and performance? And to be clear achievement and performance are not the same PARCC is CCRAP spelled backwards - The Plagued Parent:

Here comes the monkey; PARCC is back!

Well, an email came through the other day from my daughter’s middle school. PARCC is back. Next week begins round two of the standardized test that has been the object of derision by parents and classroom educators since last February.

Across the nation, in reaction to this misguided implementation, parents, students and teachers have been organizing, protesting and ‘opting out’ of this Godzilla of standardized tests. As a result many school systems are evaluating the validity of PARCC testing. Superintendents in New York, New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana and the District of Columbia have all publicly decried the test.

True this has not stopped any of them from scheduling the second portion of this years assessment, but it certainly has given some state departments of education pause. Even in my home state of Rhode Island, the Department of Education has confessed that the test was taking up too much instructional time statewide. As if that weren’t enough, in the same month the NECAP will also be administered. That is the test supposedly being replaced by the PARCC.

Wait a second. What?

No, you read that right. Two standardized tests in the same month. That’s ten days of testing that will cost approximately 20 hours of classroom instruction. Right now it is May 6 and my daughter has been informed that only 14 instructional days remain. My daughter graduates 8th grade on June 17. Does this make sense? Right now my daughter’s current math grade is a 73, and maybe it’s just me but I would think a better use of my daughter’s time would be actually focusing on what she is or is not achieving with respect to her classwork rather that determining her “placement” relative to a percentile of her cohort.

Opting out of the PARCC is making administrators concerned. Yesterday (May 5) a local news channel aired a story regarding opting out of PARCC.  The story offered statistics for districts across our state; one town reported the highest opt out rate of 35% with the lowest rate being around 2%. A local superintendent was interviewed who downplayed concerns suggesting that when a student opts out this affects the overall results, and the results will affect school rankings. The superintendent tried to appeal to civic pride — people want to move to districts with high performing schools and when kids opt out that affects outcomes. Outcomes, as we all know affect rankings and http://www.theplaguedparent.com/parcc-ccrap-part-deux/

Former state schools Superintendent Tony Bennett won't face criminal charges

Former state schools Superintendent Tony Bennett won't face criminal charges:

Former state schools Superintendent Tony Bennett won't face criminal charges

The Marion County prosecutor's office will not file criminal charges against former Indiana schools Superintendent Tony Bennett, Prosecutor Terry Curry announced Friday afternoon.

Curry renewed the investigation into the case last December after an Associated Press report revealed that former Inspector General David Thomas had found more than 100 possible violations of federal wire fraud law during an investigation into Bennett's use of state resources during his 2012 re-election campaign.

Thomas at the time said he also believed Curry could seek state criminal charges against Bennett.

In a news release Friday, Curry said his office made its decision after reviewing investigatory records that had alleged Bennett, the former superintendent of public instruction, had improperly used state resources, violated the state's "ghost employment" statute and changed the state's A-F grading system to benefit a charter school run by a prominent Republican donor.​

"A thorough review of the materials, including hundreds of documents and thousands of emails, was conducted," Curry wrote, adding that the Grand Jury Division of the prosecutor's office also conducted interviews with people the inspector general also had spoken with for their investigation.

INDIANAPOLIS STAR

Ethics committee accepts $5,000 settlement from Tony Bennett

The U.S. attorney's office, which would have had jurisdiction over any violation of federal wire fraud law, also has not filed any criminal charges against Bennett.

"This matter has been the subject of significant rumor and innuendo," Curry said. "However, the conduct in question has been appropriately addressed as ethical violations, resulting in sanctions against Mr. Bennett by the State Ethics Commission."

The inspector general's report contrasted heavily with a separate document released by the Ethics Commission last July, which found minimal violations and resulted in a $5,000 fine. Bennett has never been charged, and he has consistently denied any wrongdoing. The commission cleared him of the allegations of manipulating the state's A-F accountability system.

On Friday, Bennett declined to comment directly on the case, instead deferring to his attorney, Larry Mackey.

In a written statement, Mackey said Bennett "appreciates the thorough and professional review conducted by the MCPO and the conclusion reached."

"This matter is now closed and fully behind him for which he is very grateful," Mackeywrote. "As for Tony Bennett, whether in the public or private sector, he will continue working to improve the future of young people everywhere."

The inspector general investigation was a source of contention between Curry and Thomas last December. Thomas said he notified Curry's office in February 2014 that his office would be receiving 12 binders of material concerning the case. Thomas also provided The Star with an email from a Curry staffer acknowledging receipt of the binders, which contained the criminal probe.

Curry, however, said in December that he was never given the report. He then requested and received a copy of that report, which was reviewed along with other materials during the criminal investigation.Former state schools Superintendent Tony Bennett won't face criminal charges:

INDIANAPOLIS STAR

Bennett helping former aide open Indy charter school

Star researcher Cathy Knapp and Star reporters Brian Eason and Tony Cook contributed to this story.

Call Star reporter Jill Disis at (317) 444-6137. Follow her on Twitter: @jdisis.

Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 5/16/15

Special Nite Cap 

CORPORATE ED REFORM

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Mom says son lost valedictorian honor after message on standardized test - + KSHB.com

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Special Nite Cap: Catch Up on Today's Post 5/15/15

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