PARCC: NEXT GENERATION ASSESSMENT What does this mean for higher education in Massachusetts?

1. PARCC: NEXT GENERATION ASSESSMENT What does this mean for higher education in Massachusetts?

2. Agenda 9:00 Welcome/Introductions 9:15 Overview of PARCC Massachusetts 9:30 Development of PARCC Assessment and Implications for Higher Ed 11:00 Questions 11:30 Lunch- Pick up Box Lunch 11:45 Reconvene – Breakout Groups – English, Math, Student Placement 12:50 Wrap-up; Fill Out Evaluation Form

3. Goals for this Session • Provide a basic description of two key educational initiatives: the Common Core State Standards and PARCC • Situate these initiatives within the broader higher education and P-16 context in Massachusetts • Discuss implications for higher education – particularly entry-level placement and English, writing, and math courses

4. Overview • College and career readiness is the overall goal • Greater College Participation for those seeking college and Greater College Completion for those who enroll • New ELA/Literacy & Math Curriculum Frameworks based on the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) are being implemented in MA • MA K-12 Assessments are being aligned to CCSS • MA is actively participating in the multi-state Partnership for Assessment of Readiness of College and Careers (PARCC)

5. Why College and Career Readiness?The Rationale for Change • Our current marker (MCAS) is 10th grade requirements for the Competency Determination (CD). • One-quarter of our students do not enroll in college within 16 months of graduating from high school. • 37% of graduates take at least one remedial course during their first semester in college; that number rises to 65% at community colleges.

6. Why College and Career Readiness?The Rationale for Change • All students need to be prepared for and encouraged to pursue postsecondary education/training opportunities by taking a rigorous and relevant program of study. • More Massachusetts adults will need to have higher levels of education in order to be prepared for jobs in 21st century careers that allow them opportunities for advancement.

7. Massachusetts Structure and Activities • Standards - Common Core State Standards (CCSS); and revised 2011 Massachusetts Curriculum Frameworks based on the CCSS • Assessments - Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS); and PARCC assessments which may replace MCAS in 2014-15 if as good or better than MCAS • Definition of College and Career Readiness informs PARCC effort

8. Common Core State Standards Initiative • State-led effort began in 2009 • Governors (NGA) and education commissioners (CCSSO) • Adopted by 45 states, District of Columbia, and U.S. Virgin Islands • http://www.corestandards.org/resources/frequently-asked-questions • Created common core of K-12 English language arts and mathematics standards • Anchored in college and career readiness • Focused, coherent, clear and rigorous • Internationally benchmarked • Evidence- and research-based • Built into current MA standards • MA has adopted Common Core with 2011 MA Curriculum Frameworks • MA is revising MCAS to reflect the new, Common Core-based Frameworks

9. Key Advances of the CCSS ANCHORED IN COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS

10. Current Timeline for Alignment of MA Standards and Assessments 2014-2015 Full implementation of new assessments of ELA and math standards Administer assessments fully aligned to the 2011 standards 2013-2014 Full implementation of ELA and math standards Monitor curriculum and instruction fully aligned to the 2011 standards 2012-2013 Near full implementation of ELA and math standards Implement balance of changes in curriculum and instruction

11. Race to the Top Assessment Consortia • The U.S. Department of Education funded two proposals to develop resources and assessments for the Common Core State Standards (CCSS). • The two consortia are: • The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC) • The Smarter Balanced Assessment Consortium (SBAC)

12. Massachusetts is a PARCC State • PARCC = Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers • Massachusetts is part of consortium of 22 states and U.S. territories coordinated by Achieve, Inc. • Supports full implementation of the Common Core State Standards • Creates a next-generation assessment system in based on these Standards • Includessupporting tools to help states increase number of students who graduate high school ready for college and career • Massachusetts is a National PARCC Leader • One of 19 PARCC Governing States • Mitchell Chester, Commissioner of Elementary and Secondary Education, is chair of Governing Board • Richard Freeland, Commissioner of Higher Education, is co-chair of Advisory Committee on College Readiness

13. PARCC’s Potential in Massachusetts

14. SY 2012-13 First year pilot/field testing and related research and data collection SY 2013-14 Second year pilot/field testing and related research and data collection SY 2014-15 Full administration of PARCC assessments Summer 2015 Set achievement levels, including college-ready performance levels SY 2010-11 Launch and design phase SY 2011-12 Development begins • PARCC Timeline- Overview • PARCC assessments will be ready for MA to pilot in 2013–2014 and administer in 2014–2015, as determined by MA’s K-12 and higher education policies.

15. SY 2012-13 First year pilot/field testing and related research and data collection SY 2013-14 Second year pilot/field testing and related research and data collection SY 2014-15 Full administration of PARCC assessments Summer 2015 Set achievement levels, including college-ready performance levels SY 2010-11 Launch and design phase SY 2011-12 Development begins • Current Activities • Development of definition of “college and career readiness”(began in 2011–2012) • Campus Engagement Teams/Fellows convene faculty conversations on Common Core State Standards • Faculty participate in assessment item development

16. MA is also a CORE TO COLLEGE state • One of ten states selected to receive a Core to College grant • Funded by the Lumina Foundation, the William and Flora Hewlett Foundation, and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. • While PARCC supports development… Core to College initiative in Massachusetts supports: • The Implementation of the Common Core State Standards (CCSS) as part of MA 2011 Curriculum Frameworks • A statewide definition of college and career readiness. • The use of PARCC’s next-generation assessment to indicate students readiness for college and career without the need of remediation in English Language Arts and Mathematics. • An opportunity for curriculum and course alignment across P-16, supporting, PARCC Campus Engagement Teams, Regional Readiness Centers, and MA Educator Fellows engagement work.

17. Reminder: THE VISION PROJECT- A Public Agenda for Higher Education in Massachusetts To be a leader among state systems of higher education in seven key areas: • College Participation of high school graduates • College Completion of the students we enroll • Student Learning on campus-level and national assessments of learning • Workforce Alignment of our degree programs with key areas of workforce need in the state’s economy • Preparing Citizens to be active and informed citizens • Closing Achievement Gaps among different ethnic/racial, economic and gender groups • Research that drives economic development

18. Summary Goals and Strategies • Overall Goal: College and career readiness • Increasing college readiness of high school graduates, including student/parent/teacher understanding of college expectations • Reducing disparities among different school districts and populations • Reducing need for remediation in college • Increasing completion rates of college students • Improving assessment tools for 21st century learning • Ensuring global competitiveness of our K-12 and college graduates • Overarching Strategy: Collaboration • At national, state, regional and local levels • Between K-12 and higher education • Between administrators and educators

19. PARCC Massachusetts Structure • Based on campuses and regions • 28 Campus PARCC Engagement Teams • 6 Regional Readiness Centers • 24 MA PARCC Fellows • Input flows to Massachusetts PARCC Coordinating Council • Includes Commissioners (co-chairs), presidents, superintendents, principals, academic leaders, teachers, faculty, and curriculum and assessment leaders • Also consults with K-12 education associations, Vision Project working groups, other stakeholder groups • Council then advises Board of Higher Education and Board of Elementary and Secondary Education

20. The “Massachusetts PARCC Fellows” Act as a major arm of MA’s transition and implementation plans by providing professional development to P-12 Districts A network of in-state experts on the CCSS and PARCC for P-12 Districts and Higher Education Campuses State and peer leaders around CCSS and PARCC implementation Goal: Build and expand the number of other educators who understand and take action and ownership for implementing the CCSS and PARCC Assessments

21. Definition of College & Career Readiness

22. College Readiness P-16 Campus Engagement Teams and Regional Readiness Centerscollaborated on a shared definition of college readiness for Massachusetts. Career Readiness Integrating College and Career Readiness Task Force developed a definition of career readiness for Massachusetts. Each calls for integration in Massachusetts’ final statewide definition Massachusetts PARCC Coordinating Council drafted statewide definition. Public review of draft definition in fall 2012. The Boards of Elementary and Secondary Education and Higher Education arereviewing proposed draft.

23. PARCC Massachusetts: Definition of College & Career Readiness Survey on Draft Definition • Over 1360 participants • 47% from higher education • 48% from P-12

24. PARCC Massachusetts: Definition of College & Career Readiness Survey on Draft Definition • Participants were asked about each section of the definition: 81%In Agreement 88%In Agreement 91% In Agreement

25. PARCC Massachusetts: Definition of College & Career Readiness Summary of Statewide Definition • Overview • Academic knowledge, experiences, and intellectual and personal qualities that are important to successful completion of entry-level, credit-bearing college courses (without need for remediation) and entry into economically viable career pathways

26. PARCC Massachusetts: Definition of College & Career Readiness Summary of Statewide Definition • Essential Competencies • Learning • Academic preparation in English language arts/literacy and mathematics as contained in the Common Core State Standards and MassCore • Workplace Readiness • Career awareness, exploration and immersion; work ethic and professionalism; understanding of workplace culture, policy and safety; teamwork and collaboration; technical skills; knowing how to learn • Qualities and Strengths • Learning strategies, collaboration, communication, and problem-solving skills • Higher order thinking skills of analysis, synthesis and evaluation, and thinking critically, coherently, and creatively • Intellectual foundation grounded by motivation, intellectual curiosity, flexibility, discipline, self-advocacy, responsibility, and reasoned beliefs

27. Questions & Discussion