Kids in grades three through eight are trying out a new standardized test this spring that advocates say is more rigorous and better designed than the old MCAS test. Critics, however, say it’s too complicated and will leave many kids frustrated. Battle lines are being drawn. In communities across Massachusetts parents are refusing to let their kids take the test.
This is the story of one refuznik family: In the kitchen of his Framingham home, 13- year-old Jake Comatas is doing one of his regular chores -- putting away dishes. But on this day he can’t complain because at school he got out of something far more taxing: a new standardized test called “PARCC”.
Jakes said he was relieved when he was told he did not have to take the test.
His mom, Kim Comatas, said she made her decision after Jake – who is in the seventh grade -- took a practice test.
He said he felt stupid and I said why did you feel stupid? And he said there was a lot of things that he wasn’t taught and he didn’t understand and so as a parent I don’t understand why we’re setting out kids up for failure
Like the twenty-year old MCAS exam, PARCC – which stands for – “Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers” - is designed to measure how well kids are learning. But there are differences. PARCC requires more writing. The idea is to go beyond multiple choices to better gauge comprehension.
But Kim Comatas says it’s confusing.
This picture has nothing to do with the story.
She’s sitting at her dining room table taking a PARCC third-grade practice test on her laptop … along with another Mom, Courtney Edman.
Oh my goodness – then part b says which detail ...
They are laughing at what they consider an absurd question. But- as co-presidents of Framingham’s town-wide parent teacher organization - Comatas and Edman have been urging fellow parents to take a serious look at PARCC and check out the questions online.
I could not imagine a 3rd grader or 4th grader or 5th grader sitting down and taking this timed test. That’s completely developmentally inappropriate, age inappropriate, it didn’t match the things they were learning in class.I
Twenty Framingham elementary school teachers have also come out against PARCC, signing a letter that - among other things - claims the test is written above grade level.
Jim Peyser, the Massachusetts’ secretary of education, says "the idea of these assessments in general is to raise standards for all students." Peyser points out that PARCC is only being “tested” as a possible replacement for MCAS
Before they make a decision Peyser and other members of the State Board of Elementary and Secondary Education will hold a series of public forums.
They will likely get an earful. In Framingham alone – more than 150 families have refused to let their children take the PARCC test. A group called Common Core Forum estimates statewide several hundred other families made the same decision. Some would like to get rid of standardized testing altogether… but that’s something Peyser says won’t happen:
There’s no question that the progress that we’ve made over the past over the last 20 years has been driven in significant measure to the fact we had standards and assessments in place.
Comatas and Edman, the Framingham PTO presidents, know where they stand on MCAS and PARCC.
This November, the Board of Education is expected to make its choice.
