PERRYSBURG – Students statewide next year will take a series of new tests, but some at Penta Career
Center got a first look last month by taking "field tests."
Ryan Lee, supervisor of academics at Penta, on Tuesday explained the changes forthcoming in student
testing with the 2014-15 school year.
"Our students are going to be testing quite a bit," Lee told the board.
With current OGT testing, students take one test a day for math, reading and science; with the new PARCC
assessments, there has been no guidance from the Ohio Department of Education on what order tests will
be given.
PARCC stands for Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers and is directly tied to
the new Common Core State Standards.
Next year’s assessments will cover kindergarten through grade 12.
"This is definitely a challenge for these kids," Lee stated.
Student feedback after the "field test," or a "test the test" experiment, was
"this was very difficult," Lee shared; however, there was no issue with the technology
knowledge students needed to complete the test.
The assessments will be given twice next year; the first will be approximately 75 percent into the school
year and will focus on the application of concepts and skills. An end-of-year assessment, given
approximately 90 percent into the school year, will determine students understanding of the major
content of the grade or course.
"Our students are going to be hammered with testing next spring," Lee said.
Tests will be 90 minutes each for social studies and science; and then two 80-minute sessions and one
50-minute session for English language arts; and two 60-minute sessions for math.
And that is just the first round of tests.
For the end-of-year round, students will be given 90 minutes each for social studies and science; two
70-minute sessions for English language arts; and two 70-minute sessions for math.
Testing fatigue is "a huge concern," Lee said.
Students will have to transition from taking tests by pencil to completing them online. Another change is
with the current OGT tests, which must be passed in order to graduate, students are able to take the
test multiple times starting in their sophomore year.
In answer to a question from board member William Green, Lee said he has not learned what will happen to
students who don’t pass their PARCC assessments. With the OGT, students can take it until they score
400. With PARCC, the state hasn’t set a cut score yet.
"Getting kids to graduate is going to be much harder," Lee concluded.
Sample questions can be found at http://education.ohio.gov/Topics/Testing/Testing-Materials.
Superintendent Ron Matter asked Lee to bring a series of sample questions to the next board meeting.
