School Committee Debates MCAS versus PARCC Testing in Winthrop

By Kate Anslinger

One of the major focuses of Monday night’s School Committee meeting was the debate as to whether the district should go forward with the familiar MCAS test or to move over to the PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) test.

“I’m not sure the MCAS is preparing us for what lies ahead,” said Superintendent of Schools John Macero, when asked his thoughts on the difficult decision between the two testing options.

The PARCC assessment system is the result of the joint effort of local educators and states collaborating to establish the next generation of testing in math and language arts. With the option of having a computer-based testing system, PARCC gives a more modern approach to testing, leading students to be more prepared for the technology-enhanced work force and college curriculum, said Frank Woods, the curriculum director.

Most state tests calculate only lower-level skills, said c however; the PARCC assessments serve as a way to guide the student by determining what they need to attain prior to graduation so they are well-prepared for college and/or a career. When administering the PARCC assessment, states will be able to tailor the exams to their standards, classes, and other accountability tools that are unique to each state.

The outlook for the future is that MCAS and PARCC will be a fully merged test and by 2019, annual testing will be one hundred percent computer-based, Woods said.

Principal Ryan Heraty is faced with the same conflict, as the majority of the students who will be affected by the testing are in the grades that he oversees at the Cummings School.

“I would vote PARCC if the committee and district commit to giving the students the technology and devices they need. I would vote no PARCC if they cannot provide this,” said Heraty.

Choosing the PARCC test