What some teachers, administrators think about MCAS/PARCC debate

In a quick update on PARCC and MCAS testing to the School Committee on Thursday, Dec. 10, Linda Hanson, president of the Arlington Education Association said she polled union representatives at the nine public schools what each prefers. In brief, the survey showed that in seven elementary schools, reps in two strongly favor MCAS. Among negatives cited about PARCC are stress level and the time involved.

Those in four elementary schools favor PARCC using paper and pencil.

Some think the schools should take a year off from high-stakes testing.

At Ottoson, views were split, Hanson told the committee, and opinion weighed against PARCC using paper and pencil, but using it without paper.

“Teachers have taken this seriously,” she said.

From an administrator’s viewpoint, Ottoson Principal Tim Ruggere said, “It took years to get used to MCAS …. department chairs see PARCC is the next step.”

Later in the Dec. 10 meeting, Chairman Paul Schlichtman called Hanson back during a discussion of testing.

Each test is problematic, and each is potentially useful, she said. “You have to make a choice between two imperfect things,” she said, adding:

“This is the beginning of the conversation ….”

In addition, she said, she called this a “perfect example of a situation where teachers should have a say.”

The following notes were provided to the School Committee during public participation and later in the Dec. 10 meeting. She had also commented at the Nov, 19 meeting. Read those remarks here >>

Building Reports Based on Recommendation of SCHOOL CHOICE (online or paper and pencil) and NO PREP – JUST TEST THE TEST (conversations held within the building – administrator invited) – AEA Dec. 2015

EDCO – Thoughts from ELA Directors on MCAS/PARCC Question

Bedford – PARCC – mixed paper and pencil and computer (prepped) from January on

3rd graders – most pressure – 2 passages, 2 pages long

Watertown – PARCC P&P – stress level high

Concord – PARCC 3-5 online – tech specialist in each building – 1:1 district – hard wired –  – relatively smoothly – little text box with small font – 6 lines of text – one month for technology specialists fully booked – 3rd graders cried during math

Newton – PARCC – 13/15 online – computer nightmare – tech and lit specialists – took over a ton of time – positive experience – didn’t change any instruction – message: testing the test

Belmont – PARCC P & P (piloted online previous year – kids loved online) – killed staff behind the scenes – talked it down – didn’t do a lot of test prep – few big meetings with teachers around the format – breath of fresh air

Lexington – MCAS – and likely MCAS again this year

Winchester – MCAS last year, likely MCAS again this year – colleague a sub and scorer for PARCC – nightmare – couldn’t get anything calibrated amongst the scorers

Lincoln – MCAS last year – not sure for this year

This information was published Tuesday, Dec. 15, 2015.