A new method of tesing being rolled out in Illinois schools is once again under fire from a local school leader.
The new PARCC tests have replaced the former-ISATs and PSAEs across the state of Illinois. Warrensburg-Latham is in full swing taking these tests and Superintendent Dr. Kristen Kendrick-Weikle (WHY-kel) notes the state is encouraging schools to administer these tests using technology.
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While many schools participated in the pilot program for PARCC, Dr. Kendrick-Weikle believes there are still many unknowns regarding the tests. She feels it will be interesting to see if the expectations for PARCC tests come to fruition.
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There's been concern among local school districts that PARCC decision makers are not part of the day-to-day school experience. Dr. Kendrick-Weikle believes assessing students is important but it's the daily assessments made by teachers that probably make the most difference.
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The PARCC tests are being administered to most third through eighth graders and some high school students . Districts only have a certain amount of time to administer the tests, another challenge for districts, and many face getting the tests in before, or surrounding their spring breaks