The Rumson School District recently offered parents an opportunity to better understand the scoring methodology of the controversial Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) standardized tests.

Dubbed Understanding Your Child’s PARCC Scores, the forum held on Jan. 11th at the Forrestdale School was presented by the district’s Parent Academy, Superintendent John Bormann and Instruction Curriculum and Guidance Supervisor Laurie Volpe and hosted more than 40 parents.

Rumson is preparing to administer  (PARCC) testing for the second consecutive time from April 11 to 15 for students in grades four through eight, and from May 2 to 6 for third graders. The Parent Academy presentation provided district parents with timely information and perspective on the PARCC assessment, which is aligned with Common Core Standards.

“PARCC is just one of the many measurement tools being used in our district,” said Bormann. “PARCC is designed to more closely assess the performance of our students, and is a more realistic measurement when compared to other tests — such as NJ ASK — that have existed in the past.”

Bormann emphasized that, for the Rumson school district, the bottom line on PARCC is that “we should take it lightly, but use it wisely.

“This year’s focus is on analyzing PARCC data and identifying patterns that will inform our curriculum and teaching methods,” he said. “That being said, our district’s focus is always on providing teachers with the opportunity for creativity and excitement in their instruction.

“When teachers stop feeling excited about their classroom experience, then students will stop feeling excited as well.”

The parents in attendance gained concrete facts and were given the opportunity to ask questions of both Bormann and Volpe.

“I want you to be able to analyze your child’s test scores, but also to understand how the district will communicate and assess the data,” said Volpe. “Parents need to feel empowered as partners with the school district as their children prepare for the next step.”

At the Parent Academy presentation, Bormann noted that PLCs — Professional Learning Communities — have been built into the school day. Time spent in PLCs will be used by teachers and administrators to analyze PARCC data and curriculum standards in order to provide all students with innovative learning opportunities.

Bormann also announced that Rumson has been selected by the New Jersey Department of Education’s Office of School Innovation to be part of the innovateNJ Community.

The Office of School Innovation selects innovateNJ districts based on a lengthy and rigorous application process as well as district-wide established practices. Members of the innovateNJ Community are partnering and collaborating with other districts to bring the best innovative practices to all students.

“innovateNJ provides us with a unique opportunity to interact with other New Jersey school districts, and to act as a mentor for other districts as well,” said Bormann.

Bormann and Volpe encouraged parents to attend the Rumson School District’s upcoming Board of Education Meeting, where last year’s PARCC testing results will be shared with the community.

The presentation of PARCC scores will begin at 6:30 p.m. on Jan. 27, prior to the Board of Education meeting scheduled for 7:30 p.m., in the Higgins Library at Forrestdale School.

For information on upcoming Parent Academy presentations, as well as information on all initiatives taking place in the Rumson school district, visit www.rumsonschool.org.

— Edited press release from Rumson School District