Below are some next steps that schools/districts should follow in preparation for the Spring 2014 PARCC Field Test:
1. Add participating students into PearsonAccess.
3.Prepare your sites for Computer-Based Testing by administering an Infrastructure Trial and using the SystemCheck Tool explained below.
4. Confirm the address and contact person for your schools in PearsonAccess is up to date. This is the address CBT and PBT manuals and paper testing materials will be delivered to. New York used shipping addresses for state assessments, but districts are encouraged to check addresses for accuracy.
5. Check for the newly-added training modules. You can find these extremely helpful resources at https://parcc.tms.pearson.com/
Preparing your Site for Online Testing (applicable to districts/schools participating in computer-based testing only) Infrastructure Trial
An Infrastructure Trial is an opportunity for LEAs, schools, and students to prepare for the computer-based PARCC Field Test by simulating test-day network utilization to determine any school or LEA issues and confirm all testing devices for PARCC testing can run the appropriate software. Unlike a live assessment, you will not use real student information; instead sample students are created in the PearsonAccess Training Center. During the Infrastructure Trial, you will be able confirm that:
SystemCheck Tool
Another essential resource to confirm site readiness is the SystemCheck Tool. SystemCheck was developed to assist preparations for online testing requirements in two significant areas – student workstations and internet bandwidth. This allows LEA/districts and schools to make any necessary updates prior to testing windows. SystemCheck will validate testing workstations by checking the browser, Java version and operating system. This tool can be found at http://PARCC.Pearson.com/SystemCheck. You can find additional resources on the SystemCheck tool at http://practice.parcc.testnav.com.
Available Training Modules
A number of Training Modules are now available and within a couple weeks a downloadable version of each module’s PowerPoint presentation will also be ready. We plan to have these available to you on the TMS site next to each training module. Please see below for a summary of the training modules available and their intended audience. Please spend some time going through these modules as they contain everything you need to know to prepare for the Spring 2014 PARCC Field Test.
1. Add participating students into PearsonAccess.
- Performance-Based Assessment (PBA) – students testing ONLINE: PARCC strongly encourages districts to submit data by 2/7/14.
- End of Year (EOY) Assessment – students testing on PAPER: Deadline to receive pre-filled student ID labels is 2/28/14. If this date is missed, districts will have to manually order materials for schools. No student ID labels will be created and schools will have to manually hand-grid cover sheets for students' booklets/answer documents.
- End of Year (EOY Assessment – students testing ONLINE: PARCC strongly encourages districts to submit data by 3/20/14.
3.Prepare your sites for Computer-Based Testing by administering an Infrastructure Trial and using the SystemCheck Tool explained below.
4. Confirm the address and contact person for your schools in PearsonAccess is up to date. This is the address CBT and PBT manuals and paper testing materials will be delivered to. New York used shipping addresses for state assessments, but districts are encouraged to check addresses for accuracy.
5. Check for the newly-added training modules. You can find these extremely helpful resources at https://parcc.tms.pearson.com/
Preparing your Site for Online Testing (applicable to districts/schools participating in computer-based testing only) Infrastructure Trial
An Infrastructure Trial is an opportunity for LEAs, schools, and students to prepare for the computer-based PARCC Field Test by simulating test-day network utilization to determine any school or LEA issues and confirm all testing devices for PARCC testing can run the appropriate software. Unlike a live assessment, you will not use real student information; instead sample students are created in the PearsonAccess Training Center. During the Infrastructure Trial, you will be able confirm that:
- TestNav is configured correctly
- Devices can successfully run TestNav
- Network will bear the full load
- Participating staff know what to do for PARCC computer-based assessment
- Students are familiar with the computer-based tools and format
SystemCheck Tool
Another essential resource to confirm site readiness is the SystemCheck Tool. SystemCheck was developed to assist preparations for online testing requirements in two significant areas – student workstations and internet bandwidth. This allows LEA/districts and schools to make any necessary updates prior to testing windows. SystemCheck will validate testing workstations by checking the browser, Java version and operating system. This tool can be found at http://PARCC.Pearson.com/SystemCheck. You can find additional resources on the SystemCheck tool at http://practice.parcc.testnav.com.
Available Training Modules
A number of Training Modules are now available and within a couple weeks a downloadable version of each module’s PowerPoint presentation will also be ready. We plan to have these available to you on the TMS site next to each training module. Please see below for a summary of the training modules available and their intended audience. Please spend some time going through these modules as they contain everything you need to know to prepare for the Spring 2014 PARCC Field Test.
The Test Coordinator Manuals (TCM) for both Computer-Based and Paper-Based Testing can be found at http://PARCC.Pearson.com/Support under the Manuals and Documents tab. The TCM contains useful information for LEA/District Test Coordinators and School Test Coordinators, such as guidance and policies on scheduling and testing time, test security protocols and policies, preparing for the Field Test administration, tasks to complete during and after administration, and additional information about administering accommodations. All schools participating in the Field Test will receive one printed copy of the Test Coordinator Manual.
The TCMs also contain a checklist that summarizes the tasks that must be completed before, during, and after test administration. The checklists are organized by tasks for the following roles: LEA/District Test Coordinators, School Test Coordinators, Technology Coordinators (computer-based only), and Test Administrators. The checklists can be found in the Appendix of the TCM. PARCC will also be releasing Test Administrator Manuals, which will be available in February 2014.
Sample Items and Tutorials
Recently, the sample items on the PARCC website have been moved to the same platform that students will use on the field test. This means teachers, students, parents and others will be able to engage with the sample items using computer-based tools such as drag-and-drop, multiple select, text highlighting, and equation builder. PARCC also released an online tutorial that demonstrates how students will navigate the test, and how to use the computer-based tools and features that make the test more accessible for all students. Please note that items appearing in this tutorial are not PARCC items. They are examples used to allow students and educators to gain familiarity with the technology platform that will be used for PARCC assessments. The Sample Items and Tutorials are web-based, available 24/7, require no log in or password, and can be found at http://practice.parcc.testnav.com/.
Frequently Asked Questions
Question: If I missed the window to load students for the Paper PBA component, can I still register students?
Answer: Yes, you will still need to add the students to PearsonAccess and then use the Additional Order window to order paper materials. The Additional Order window for PBA component opens on March 19. However, you will not receive student ID labels for students registered after the SDU deadline.
Question: schools are having problems adding students for the Spring 2014 PARCC Field Test. What is the best resource for adding students into PearsonAccess?
Answer: A very helpful resource on submitting Student Data is the Student Data Upload Overview training module found at http://parcc.tms.pearson.com. This module provides instructions for states, districts and schools to create Student Data Upload (SDU) files using the PARCC SDU file layout and field definitions, and submit the file in PearsonAccess.
Question: How do I know if I will receive a large print or read aloud kit?
Answer: You can look this up by starting in the Tests Management tab in PearsonAccess. Go to Register Students, click on the class name, click on the student’s name, and then click Assigned Tests. After selecting the test, you can see the Student Test Details screen. This will show you if the student was signed up for either of these accommodations.
PARCC Support
Due to severe weather-related issues, the wait times have recently been longer than normal for the PARCC Help Center, and we sincerely apologize for the inconvenience this has caused. We assure you that these are unusual circumstances and will not be a normal practice during the PARCC Field Test. We encourage you to reach out to us again with your questions.
For more information regarding PARCC and the 2014 Field Test, please visit the PARCC website at http://www.parcconline.org/field-test. If you have questions regarding the administration of the PARCC Field Test, please contact Pearson’s PARCC Help Center: 1-888-493-9888 (open Monday through Friday, 6:00am to 8:00pm CST) or [email protected].