1. What does this mean for higher education in Massachusetts?
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 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
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
ENGLISH LANGUAGE ARTS/LITERACY
Balance of literature and informational texts; focus on text complexity
Emphasis on argument, informative/ explanatory writing, and research
Speaking and listening skills
Literacy standards for history, science and technical subjects
MATHEMATICS
Focus, coherence and clarity: emphasis on key topics at each grade level and coherent progression across grades
Procedural fluency and understanding of concepts and skills
Promote rigor through mathematical proficiencies that foster reasoning and understanding across disciplines
High school standards organized by conceptual categories
ANCHORED IN COLLEGE AND CAREER READINESS

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

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
Includes supporting 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. The PARCC States 13

14. PARCC’s Potential in Massachusetts
Clearer signal on what it means to be “college ready”
Students on faster track to completion, less need for remediation
Better assessment tool for 21st century learning

15. PARCC Timeline- Overview SY
Development begins SY
First year pilot/field testing and related research and data collection SY
Second year pilot/field testing and related research and data collection SY
Full administration of PARCC assessments SY
Launch and design phase
Summer 2015
Set achievement levels, including college-ready performance levels
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.

16. Faculty participate in assessment item development
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 SY
Development begins SY
First year pilot/field testing and related research and data collection SY
Second year pilot/field testing and related research and data collection SY
Full administration of PARCC assessments SY
Launch and design phase
Summer 2015
Set achievement levels, including college-ready performance levels

17. 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.

18. 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

19. 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

20. 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

21. 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

22. Definition of College & Career Readiness

23. College Readiness Career Readiness
P-16 Campus Engagement Teams and Regional Readiness Centers collaborated 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 are reviewing proposed draft.

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

25. Survey on Draft Definition
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

26. Summary of Statewide Definition
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

27. Summary of Statewide Definition
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

28. Questions & Discussion