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PARCC and Core to College
What's New
Public Feedback Requested
Between April 10, 2013 and May 8, 2013, PARCC is seeking public comment on the draft grade- and subject-specific performance level descriptors (PLDs) in English language arts/literacy and mathematics. The Department of Higher Education put together resources about the PLDs.
Save the Date: May 20, 2013 Future Ready Summit
Future Ready Massachusetts is a public communication campaign designed to promote awareness and understanding of what it takes for all students (youth and adult learners) to be “college and career ready.” The Future Ready Summit (.doc) will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. at the DCU Center in Worcester, MA.
Board of Higher Education Joins Board of Elementary & Secondary Education in Defining College and Career “Readiness”
March 12—The Massachusetts Board of Higher Education (BHE) voted today to accept a new definition of what it takes for students to become ready for life after high school. The BHE action follows a “yes” vote on the state’s new college & career readiness definition taken by the Board of Elementary and Secondary Education on February 26th.
Voting on the definition marks the first time that the two boards overseeing the state’s K-12 schools and public colleges and universities have partnered in formal agreement on what it means to be prepared for success in college and in the workplace. The three-page definition (.PDF) is intended to provide better coordination between schools and colleges, with the goal of aligning curriculum and expectations for students.
What Is PARCC
PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career Readiness) and Core to College are K-16 initiatives to ensure that "college-bound" means "college-ready." The primary activities are:
- Full implementation of the Common Core State Standards;
- Creation of a next-generation assessment system based on the Standards; and
- Development of a definition of "college and career readiness."
The goals are to:
- Increase college readiness among high school graduates and increase the understanding of college expectations among parents, students and teachers;
- Reduce disparities among different school districts and populations;
- Reduce the need for remediation in college;
- Increase completion rates of college students;
- Improve assessment tools for 21st century learning; and
- Ensure global competitiveness of K-12 and college graduates.
The overarching strategy is collaboration at the national, state, regional and local levels and among K-12 and higher education educators and administrators.
Related Links
National PARCC Initiative (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) 