Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers

Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers
Name	Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers
Abbreviation	PARCC
Formation	2010
Purpose	Educational assessment
Status	Consortium
Headquarters	Washington, D.C.
Region served	United States

Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers. The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, commonly known as PARCC, is a consortium of U.S. states that developed a standardized assessment system aligned to the Common Core State Standards Initiative. Created in 2010 through a grant from the U.S. Department of Education under the Race to the Top program, its primary aim was to provide a common measure of student preparedness for postsecondary education. The consortium was managed by the nonprofit Achieve and represented a significant collaborative effort in American education.

Overview

The consortium was established to create next-generation assessments in English language and mathematics for grades 3 through 11. These assessments were designed to replace a patchwork of state-specific tests, such as those previously used in Illinois or Florida, with a unified metric for college and career readiness. The initiative was a direct response to critiques from organizations like the National Governors Association and the Council of Chief State School Officers regarding inconsistent standards across the United States. PARCC assessments were intended to be administered primarily on computers, marking a shift from traditional paper-based testing models.

Development and design

Development was led by the testing vendor Pearson Education, in partnership with states and educational experts from institutions like the University of California, Los Angeles. The design process emphasized complex, performance-based tasks over simple multiple-choice questions, drawing on international models like the Programme for International Student Assessment. Key design features included two testing windows—a Performance-Based Assessment and an End-of-Year Assessment—and the use of technology-enhanced items. The Gates Foundation provided significant funding for the development of the accompanying digital learning resources and platforms.

Member states and adoption

At its peak, the PARCC governing board included representatives from states such as Colorado, District of Columbia, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New Mexico, and Rhode Island. Several other states, including Arkansas and Ohio, initially participated as governing or advisory members but later withdrew. Adoption varied significantly, with states like New Jersey and Maryland fully implementing the tests, while others, such as Indiana and Oklahoma, repealed their involvement following political debates over the Common Core State Standards Initiative. The consortium's membership dwindled considerably after 2015.

Assessment components and scoring

The assessment system comprised several interconnected components. The summative assessments for grades 3-8 and high school were the core, featuring sections on literary analysis, research simulation, and narrative writing. High school tests were designed to be used for placement by institutions like the University of Hawaii system. Scoring utilized a five-point scale, with performance levels ranging from "Did Not Yet Meet Expectations" to "Exceeded Expectations." The tests also included diagnostic and mid-year assessments to inform instruction, with raw scores scaled using Item response theory methodologies.

Reception and criticism

PARCC faced substantial criticism from various groups, including the National Education Association and parent-led organizations like United Opt Out National. Critics argued the tests were excessively long, led to over-testing, and caused undue stress for students in districts like Chicago Public Schools. Political figures, including then-Governor Chris Christie of New Jersey, became vocal opponents, citing federal overreach. Technical issues with the online testing platform provided by American Institutes for Research during initial rollouts in states like Colorado further damaged its credibility. Supporters, including former Secretary of Education Arne Duncan, contended it provided valuable, comparable data.

Impact and legacy

Despite its contraction, PARCC influenced assessment practices nationwide, pushing states toward computer-based testing and complex item types. Its assessment blueprints and resources were adopted or adapted by several successor testing programs, including the Illinois Assessment of Readiness and the New Mexico Measures of Student Success and Achievement. The consortium's work also informed the development of the National Assessment of Educational Progress frameworks. The PARCC brand was officially retired in 2021, with its remaining assets transferred to the New Jersey Department of Education, marking the end of a major experiment in common standardized assessment.

Category:Educational assessment in the United States Category:Common Core Category:Organizations based in Washington, D.C. Category:Organizations established in 2010