April is PARCC month at area schools

STAFF WRITER

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Throughout portions of this month at varied times, sectors of the Clovis Municipal Schools student population have been taking assessment exams.

CMS officials said PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) and SBA (Standards Based Assessment) are the two assessments administered to students — and the testing time frames are often misunderstood.

“One common misconception is the students are in testing all day, but we have slotted certain dates and times that don’t infringe upon or conflict with classroom instruction,” Clovis Municipal Schools Deputy Superintendent of Instruction Cindy Martin said. “The information gathered during the testing process helps us to determine where help is needed.”

The New Mexico Public Education Department said overall, New Mexico has reduced state required testing time from 2010-2015 by 2.5 hours (across all grades). And within the last year, PARCC testing was reduced by an average of 90 minutes per grade level.

According to its website, the PARCC is a group of states working together to develop a set of assessments that measure whether students are on track to be successful in college and their careers.

Clovis students in grades 3-11 were administered the PARCC mathematics and English/language arts component while students in grades 4, 7 and 11 took the New Mexico SBA in science.

PARCC officials said the test provides teachers, schools, students and parents with information regarding whether students are on track in their learning and for success after high school, as well as tools to help teachers customize learning to meet student needs.

Since the spring 2012 SBA test administration, New Mexico Public Education Department officials said the SBA has served a dual purpose as the accountability assessment and as the High School Graduation Assessment (HSGA), with meeting proficiency on the SBA being required for high school graduation.