UPDATED: PARCC Starts Week of April 4 in S. Orange-Maplewood; See Schedule, Opt-Out Info

Update, 3/31 4:40 p.m.: The SOMSD released the following additional information from Supt. Dr. John Ramos about PARCC testing; see below:

Dear Families of Students in Grades 3-11:

The PARCC English Language Arts and Math exams will be administered to students in grades 3-11 beginning on April 4, 2016. Each school’s testing schedules are listed on the attached pages.

This year the following changes were made to the PARCC exam:

One Testing Window – In the first year of PARCC testing, the exams were administered in two separate testing windows, one throughout March and a second during late April and May. This year, all exam sections will be given in a single testing window.

Shorter Testing Time – Allotted testing time — roughly 10-11 hours in 2015 depending on a student’s grade level — will be shorter by about 90 minutes overall, 60 minutes fewer in math and 30 minutes fewer in English.

Fewer Test Sessions – Students will take one, two or three fewer test sections depending on their grade.

Some 11th Grade Students are Exempt – The State Department of Education has decided to excuse juniors who take Advanced Placement English tests or International Baccalaureate English tests in 11th grade from taking the PARCC English test for juniors.

Faster Results – PARCC testing finished in May last year but students didn’t get their results until around December, a seven-month delay. This year, PARCC scores are expected to be returned more quickly.

SOMSD recognizes that some families have concerns about their children participating in PARCC testing, and we have received some questions about what happens should a family refuse to allow their child/children to be tested. We respect personal parental concerns about this assessment, while at the same time we are adhering to state regulations which mandate we must administer the PARCC. If you are planning to refuse to allow your son or daughter to take the test, please note the following:

Please send an email or a letter to the building principal as soon as possible indicating that you are refusing to have your child take the PARCC test.

For students in grades 3-8:

Please do not keep your child home from school. We are required to follow all attendance rules and regulations.

Non-test taking students should bring a book to keep them occupied during the hours of testing. They will remain in the classroom with the other students who are being tested. We cannot provide a separate space for non-testing students due to lack of personnel and space.

For students in grades 9-11: Please follow the directions in Ms. Aaron’s letter on PARCC testing.

Refusing to take the test will not result in disciplinary action.

Thank you for your partnership in helping SOMSD meet our state-mandate.

——————————————————————————————-

PARCC standardized testing is scheduled to start in the South Orange-Maplewood School District next week (the week of April 4, 2016).

Unlike last year — PARCC’s inaugural year — the test will be taken over the course of just one week for any one student, instead of two weeks. However, those weeks vary by school as each building sets its own schedule.

See the full schedule provided by the school district below.

For more on the South Orange-Maplewood School District’s stance on PARCC, visit here.

Tonight, a group of local parents are hosting a seminar on opting out of PARCC. Find out more here.

 

PARCC SCHEDULE 2016 

COLUMBIA HIGH SCHOOL
During PARCC testing days, our cafeteria will open at 7:15 for breakfast for testing students.
Tuesday, April 19, 2016
Grade 9 MATH UNIT 1
Grade 9 MATH UNIT 2
8:15: 9th Grade Students Report To School
8:25: Testing Begins
(late students cannot be admitted)
10:55 am: 10th, 11th, 12th grades report to school
Period 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Wednesday, April 20, 2016
Grade 9 MATH UNIT 3
Grade 9 ELA UNIT 1
8:15: 9th Grade Students Report To School
8:25: Testing Begins
(late students cannot be admitted)
10:55 am: 10th, 11th, 12th grades report to school
Period 5, 6, 7, 3, 9

Thursday, April 21, 2015
Grade 9 ELA UNIT 2
8:15: 9th Grade Students Report To School
8:25: Testing Begins
(late students cannot be admitted)
10:15 am: 10th, 11th, 12th grades report to school
Period 4, 5, 6, 7, 2, 9 

Friday, April 22, 2016
Grade 9 ELA UNIT ELA 3
8:15: 9th Grade Students Report To School
8:25: Testing Begins
(late students cannot be admitted)
10:15 am: 10th, 11th, 12th grades report to school
Period 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

Tuesday, April 26, 2016
Grades 10 and 11 MATH UNIT 1
Grades 10 and 11 MATH UNIT 2
8:15: 10th and 11th Grade Students Report To School
8:25: Testing Begins
(late students cannot be admitted)
10:55 am: 9th, 12th grades report to school
Period 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 

Wednesday, April 27, 2016
Grades 10 and 11 MATH UNIT 3
Grades 10 and 11 ELA UNIT 1
8:15: 10th and 11th Grade Students Report To School
8:25: Testing Begins
(late students cannot be admitted)
10:55 am: 9th, 12th grades report to school
Period 5, 6, 7, 3, 9 

Thursday, April 28, 2015
Grades 10 and 11 ELA UNIT 2
8:15: 10th and 11th Grade Students Report To School
8:25: Testing Begins
(late students cannot be admitted)
10:15 am: 9th, 12th grades report to school
Period 4, 5, 6, 7, 2, 9

Friday, April 29, 2016
Grades 10 and 11 ELA UNIT ELA 3
8:15: 10th and 11th Grade Students Report To School
8:25: Testing Begins
(late students cannot be admitted)
10:15 am: 9th, 12th grades report to school
Period 3, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9

 

MAPLEWOOD MIDDLE AND SOUTH ORANGE MIDDLE

8^th Grade PARCC April 4^th, April 5^th, April 6^th and April 7^th 

• 8^th Grade PARCC Math Unit 1 (80 min) and Unit 2 (80 min) – Monday
  • 8^th graders taking Algebra I or Geometry Unit 1 (90 min) and Unit 2 (90 min) – Monday
• 8^th Grade PARCC Math Unit 3 (80 min) – Tuesday
  • 8^th graders taking Algebra I or Geometry Unit 3 (90 min) – Tuesday
• 8^th Grade PARCC ELA Unit 1 (110 min) -Wednesday
• 8^th Grade PARCC ELA Unit 2 (110 min) and Unit 3 (90 min) -Thursday

7^th Grade PARCC April 19^th, April 20^th, April 21^st and April 22^nd

• 7^th Grade PARCC Math Unit 1 (80 min) and Unit 2 (80 min) – Tuesday
  • 7^th graders taking Algebra I Unit 1 (90 min) and Unit 2 (90 min) – Tuesday
• 7^th Grade PARCC Math Unit 3 (80 min) – Wednesday
  • 7^th graders taking Algebra I Unit 3 (90 min) – Wednesday
• 7^th Grade PARCC ELA Unit 1 (110 min) -Thursday
• 7^th Grade PARCC ELA Unit 2 (110 min) and Unit 3 (90 min) – Friday

6^th Grade PARCC April 26^th, April 27^th, April 28^th and April 29^th 

• 6^th Grade PARCC Math Unit 1 (80 min) and Unit 2 (80 min) – Tuesday
• 6^th Grade PARCC Math Unit 3 (80 min) – Wednesday
• 6^th Grade PARCC ELA Unit 1 (110 min)-Thursday
• 6^th Grade PARCC ELA Unit 2 (110 min) and Unit 3 (90 min) – Friday

Accelerated 8th grade mathematics students will not report to CHS and will report to their middle school at 8:12am on these PARCC testing dates. On Friday April 8th, the 8th grade accelerated mathematics students will return to their regular schedule and attend CHS for their Geometry course. Although CHS students will be taking the PARCC assessment after spring break, this will not affect our 8th grade accelerated mathematics students.

 

CLINTON ELEMENTARY

Grade 5 – Testing schedule is as follows:

• 4/4 ELA Unit 1 – 90 min
• 4/5 ELA Unit 2- 90 min
• 4/6 ELA Unit 3- 90 min
• 4/7 Math Unit 1- 60 min & Math Unit 2 -60 min
• 4/8 Math Unit 3- 60 min & Math Unit 4 -60 min

Grade 4 – Testing schedule is as follows:

• 4/19 ELA Unit 1 – 90 min
• 4/20 ELA Unit 2- 90 min
• 4/21 ELA Unit 3- 90 min
• 4/22 Math Unit 1- 60 min & Math Unit 2 -60 min
• 4/25 Math Unit 3- 60 min & Math Unit 4 -60 min

Grade 3 – Testing schedule is as follows:

• 4/25 ELA Unit 1 – 90 min
• 4/26 ELA Unit 2- 90 min
• 4/27 ELA Unit 3- 90 min
• 4/28 Math Unit 1- 60 min & Math Unit 2 -60 min
• 4/29 Math Unit 3- 60 min & Math Unit 4 -60 min

 

JEFFERSON

GRADE 5 – Testing schedule is as follows:

• 4/19 Language Arts Literacy Unit 1 (90 minutes)
• 4/20 Language Arts Literacy Unit 2 (90 minutes)
• 4/21 Language Arts Literacy Unit 3(90 minutes)
• 4/22 Mathematics Units 1 & 2 (120 minutes)
• 4/25 Mathematics Units 1 & 2 (120 minutes)

GRADE 4 – Testing schedule is as follows:

• 4/26  Language Arts Literacy Unit 1 (90 minutes)
• 4/27  Language Arts Literacy Unit 2 (90 minutes)
• 4/28  Language Arts Literacy Unit 3 (90 minutes)
• 4/29   Mathematics Units 1 & 2 (120 minutes)
• 5/2     Mathematics Units 3 & 4 (120 minutes)

GRADE 3 – Testing schedule is as follows:

• 4/26   Language Arts Literacy Unit 1 (90 minutes)
• 4/27   Language Arts Literacy Unit 2 (75 minutes)
• 4/28   Language Arts Literacy Unit 3 (90 minutes)
• 4/29   Mathematics Unit 1 (60 minutes)
• 5/2     Mathematics Unit 2 (60 minutes)
• 5/3    Mathematics Unit 3 (60 minutes)
• 5/4    Mathematics Unit 4 (60 minutes)

 

SOUTH MOUNTAIN

GRADE 5 – Testing schedule is as follows:

• 4/4    Language Arts Literacy Unit 1 (90 minutes)
• 4/5    Language Arts Literacy Unit 2 (90 minutes)
• 4/6    Language Arts Literacy Unit 3(90 minutes)
• 4/7    Mathematics Units 1 & 2 (120 minutes)
• 4/8    Mathematics Units 1 & 2 (120 minutes)

GRADE 4 – Testing schedule is as follows:

• 4/19    Language Arts Literacy Unit 1 (90 minutes)
• 4/20    Language Arts Literacy Unit 2 (90 minutes)
• 4/21    Language Arts Literacy Unit 3 (90 minutes)
• 4/22    Mathematics Units 1 & 2 (120 minutes)
• 5/25    Mathematics Units 3 & 4 (120 minutes)

GRADE 3 – Testing schedule is as follows:

• 4/26   Language Arts Literacy Unit 1 (90 minutes)
• 4/27   Language Arts Literacy Unit 2 (75 minutes)
• 4/28   Language Arts Literacy Unit 3 (90 minutes)
• 4/29   Mathematics Unit 1 (60 minutes) & Unit 2 (60 minutes)
• 5/2     Mathematics Unit 3 (60 minutes) & Unit 4 (60 minutes)

 

TUSCAN

Grade 5 – Testing schedule is as follows:

• 4/4 ELA Unit 1 – 90 min
• 4/5 ELA Unit 2- 90 min
• 4/6 ELA Unit 3- 90 min
• 4/7 Math Unit 1- 60 min & Math Unit 2 -60 min
• 4/8 Math Unit 3- 60 min & Math Unit 4 -60 min

Grade 4 – Testing schedule is as follows:

• 4/18 ELA Unit 1 – 90 min
• 4/19 ELA Unit 2- 90 min
• 4/20 ELA Unit 3- 90 min
• 4/21 Math Unit 1- 60 min & Math Unit 2 -60 min
• 4/22 Math Unit 3- 60 min & Math Unit 4 -60 min

Grade 3 – Testing schedule is as follows:

• 4/25 ELA Unit 1 – 90 min
• 4/26 ELA Unit 2- 90 min
• 4/27 ELA Unit 3- 90 min
• 4/28 Math Unit 1- 60 min & Math Unit 2 -60 min
• 4/29 Math Unit 3- 60 min & Math Unit 4 -60 min

SETH BOYDEN

Grade 5: April 4^th to 8^th
Grade 4: April 18^th to 22^nd
Grade 3: April 25^th to 29^th