College & Career Are Goals

By Mike Brothers

Sullivan District 300 school board members learned high school and elementary school student assessment testing results were good, but some work needs to been done in the middle school.

School psychologist Jessica L. Reeder presented Partnership for Assessment of Readiness of College and Careers (PARCC) testing results December 14.

Reeder noted this was the first year for PARCC testing for grades 3-8 in English, language arts and mathematics. Juniors at Sullivan High School were tested in English III and Algebra II.

Reeder explained the scoring gap between high school and elementary may be partly explained by the recent curricula changes. “Teaching Common Core is raising the bar of expectations,” she said, noting students achieving past curricula expectation levels are now having to advance.

Superintendent Brad Tuttle noted the staff and students put in a lot of blood, sweat and tears on the PARCC tests, which require up to three weeks at the elementary level and one day at the high school level.

Tuttle did explain that funding for the testing has yet to be determined. The state paid testing expenses in the past, but since there is no state budget, those questions remain.

“I like that we are teaching kids to think outside the box,” Reeder said of Common Core, noting tests are requiring students to think critically, solve problems and explain their answers.

She explained that kind of thinking is essential when preparing students for college and careers.

Scoring was separated into five levels and a point system ranging from 650 to 850. Students achieving levels four and five (scoring 750-850) were at the top of the scale of college and career ready candidates.     Login or Subscribe to read the rest of this story.