After Bernards High School’s first PARCC test on March 2 through March 6, and another one coming up on April 20 and 21, controversy and discussion about it are everywhere. There was a snow day and multiple delayed openings during the testing, causing classes to be shortened to be about 20 minutes on most days. Mr. Catelli, the PARCC administrator for Bernards High, shared his thoughts about the first PARCC this school has taken. “Definitely, there was political confusion, especially with the snow. But, I think at the end of the day we were able to offer a test to everyone who wanted. There were definitely some missteps, but, every single student who we offered the test to was able to complete it. So, to me it was successful. I think we can organize it better in two weeks,” said Mr. Catelli.
There were also some technological issues, such as on Wednesday, March 4, when all of the computers did not work for a while. But, like anything for the first time, especially a standardized test, issues should be expected for the first one ever. Mr. Catelli said that they figured out how to fix “the tech issues that backed us up on Wednesday” and that they “definitely won’t happen again”.
The PARCC, coming up this April is a follow up to the one in March. Many questions have been asked about what to expect for this upcoming test. According to Mr.Catelli, “the PARCC in March is called the PBA (performance based assessment) which has a little bit more of reading the documents, watching the videos. The EOY (end of year assessment) is going to look a little bit more of like a traditional final section. The math on this one won’t be as robust as the first one.” It is supposed to measure how much students have learned later in the year, and to see how they have improved. Another difference between the two is, instead of the PARCC taking four half days in March, the EOY assessment will be combined into two days instead of four, which “should give teachers an extra hour of time”, according to Mr. Catelli.
Many students controversially refused to take the PARCC, and had their parents refuse it for them, According to Mr. Catelli, “It is students’ choice to decide if they want to refuse. Our job is to administer the test, and make sure that students reach the graduation requirements. We will make sure that the students who refused it, know the other requirements. It doesn’t personally bother me if people refuse the PARCC.”
Passing the PARCC is one of the ways to meet the graduation requirement. If students do not pass the PARCC (by refusing to take it or by doing poorly on it), other options are to get, in english and mathematics, a 400 or above in the SATs, a score of 16 or above in the ACTs, or a 40 or above in the PSATs, along with a few other options.
As for what to expect for the future, Mr. Catelli is unsure. “I don’t have an answer. We have to wait and see what the state of New Jersey says. If the the state of NJ says it is, it is. It could change, depending on the state’s decision.”
