By Jennifer Amato
Staff Writer
NORTH BRUNSWICK – Multiple cross-sections of North Brunswick students met or exceeded achievement levels set forth by the PARCC (Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers) in the spring of 2015.
“Upon reviewing and sharing the scores, the district has received positive feedback from staff, students and parents alike,” said Amy Rumbo, supervisor of assessments and grants for the North Brunswick School District. “Our staff and students were well prepared to administer and engage in the assessments and we are pleased with how our students performed on their first online state test.”
In April and May, more than 4,000 North Brunswick students in grades 3-11 were tested per grade in language arts and math. Those at the middle school and high school levels were tested in their appropriate math subject.
The tests are graded from level one to five: one, not yet meeting requirements; two, partially meeting requirements; three, approaching expectations; four, meeting expectations; and five, exceeding expectations.
North Brunswick schools met or exceeded the PARCC cohort average in 14 out of 18 tests administered to grades 3-9 for language arts; and grades 3-7, Algebra I and Algebra II in math. Students met or exceeded the state average in 12 out of 18 tests administered to grades 3 and 5-10 in language arts; and to grades 5 and 6, Algebra I, Algebra II and geometry in math, according to Rumbo and Jennifer Diszler, director of curriculum for the district.
District-wide for grade 11 in language arts, 24.3 percent were level one; 20.1 percent were level two; 24.7 percent were level three; 23.2 percent were level four; and 7.7 percent were level five.
District-wide for grade 10 in language arts, 25.8 percent were level one; 18.1 percent were level two; 19.6 percent were level three; 21.8 percent were level four; and 14.7 percent were level five.
District-wide for grade 9 in language arts, 9.1 percent were level one; 19.7 percent were level two; 27.8 percent were level three; 30.3 percent were level four; and 13.1 percent were level five.
District-wide for Algebra II, scores were 25.2 percent at level one; 20.4 at level two; 21.6 percent at level three; 29.2 percent at level four; and 3.6 percent at level five.
District-wide for Algebra I, scores were 6.9 percent at level one; 22.9 percent at level two; 33.3 percent at level three; 34.1 percent at level four; and 2.9 percent at level five.
District-wide for geometry, scores were 11.6 percent were level one; 31.3 percent were level two; 33.8 percent were level three; 19.1 percent were level four; and 4.4 percent were level five.
District-wide for grade 8 in language arts, 8.1 percent were level one; 15.6 percent were level two; 20.3 percent were level three; 38.4 percent were level four; and 17.6 percent were level five. District-wide for grade 8 in math, 22.4 percent were level one; 37.1 percent were level two; 29 percent were level three; 11.4 percent were level for and 0 percent were level five.
District-wide for grade 7 in language arts, 10.8 percent were level one; 13 percent were level two; 15.5 percent were level three; 31.9 percent were level four; and 28.7 percent were level five. District-wide for grade 7 in math, 8.9 percent were level one; 21.1 percent were level two; 30.7 percent were level three; 35.9 percent were level four; and 3.4 percent were level five.
District-wide for grade 6 in language arts, 7.2 percent were level one; 17.3 percent were level two; 25.5 percent were level three; 37.3 percent were level four; and 12.5 percent were level five. District-wide for grade 6 in math were 7.3 percent were level one; 22.2 percent were level two; 29.6 percent were level three; 35 percent were level four; and 5.9 percent were level five.
District-wide for grade 5 in language arts, 7.3 percent were level one; 16.3 percent were level two; 25.3 percent were level three; 45.5 percent were level four; and 5.7 percent were level five. District-wide for grade 5 in math, 6.6 percent were level one; 22.9 percent were level two; 29.7 percent were level three; 32.7 percent were level four; and 8.1 percent were level five.
District-wide for grade 4 in language arts, 8.7 percent were level one; 15.5 percent were level two; 27.5 percent were level three; 35.6 percent were level four; and 12.7 percent were level five. District-wide for grade 4 in math, 12.2 percent were level one; 24 percent were level two; 26.5 percent were level three; 31.2 percent were level four; and 6.1 percent were level five.
District-wide for grade 3 in language arts, 15.9 percent were level one; 18 percent were level two; 21.1 percent were level three; 38.6 percent were level four; and 6.4 percent were level five. District-wide in grade 3 in math, 12.1 percent were level one; 20.4 percent were level two; 24 percent were level three; 33.7 percent were level four; and 9.7 percent were level five.
To prepare for the tests, the district promotes the integration of Google Apps for education in grades K-12 and utilizes technology-enhanced skills such as drag and drop, highlighting text, the use of math graphing tools and online calculators, as well as continual typing practice, Rumbo said. All district students in grades 3-11 received classroom time to perform with PARCC tutorial items, content samples and content-based practice tests.
“In terms of preparation, North Brunswick has developed and continues to implement a standards-based curriculum and instructional program. We also provide local benchmark assessments administered at all grade levels to gauge strengths in students’ skill sets for both literacy and mathematics, and we provide staff with ongoing professional development in differentiated instruction to meet the needs of all our learners,” she said.
In 2013, three North Brunswick elementary schools were selected to participate in a PARCC Item Tryout session. In 2014, several classes at one elementary school, Linwood Middle School and North Brunswick Township High School were chosen to administer PARCC Field Testing.
“Both of these hands-on experiences with the PARCC platform gave the district the incredible insight into the type of testing environment students and staff could expect, as well as how the district’s technology infrastructure could support the new online assessment platform,” Rumbo said.
In addition, Rumbo had created a comprehensive PARCC resource website for staff and well as a Common Core and PARCC resource website for parents/guardians.
As testing quickly approaches in the spring, educators will continue to schedule hands-on practice with the updated PARCC tutorial, particularly the integration of more repeated use with the PARCC equation editor tool for the math assessment, Rumbo said.
The district will also continue to have additional devices available in all testing rooms.
“By including spare equipment in each location, any technical issues could be easily addressed by using a new device if necessary without interruption to the testing environment,” Rumbo said.
For more information on the PARCC tests, visit www.state.nj.us/education/assessment/parcc/informing.pdf.
Contact Jennifer Amato at jamato@gmnews.com.
