The PARCC Capacity Planning Tool allows schools to model different levels of testing windows, devices, simultaneous test-takers by grade level, and bandwidth demands, and to check their current and planned strategies against several “rule of thumb” models for determining test-taking configurations and student to device ratio targets.

Printable PDF versions are provided below for review purposes. Calculations need to be performed in the Interactive Version.

• Capacity Planning Tool – Interactive Version

• Capacity Planning Tool – Print Version
• Small Elementary Example – Print Version
• User’s Guide for PARCC Assessment Administration Capacity Planning Tool: This guide walks through the Assessment Administration Capacity Planning Tool step-by-step to support school and district leaders in using it and interpreting the results.

As assessment development progresses, PARCC will continue to issue increasingly detailed guidance and online tools to help schools evaluate and prepare their assessment technology infrastructure. As available, further information will be posted to http://www.parcconline.org/technology.

Please review and provide feedback on the PARCC Accommodations Manual addressing accommodations for students with disabilities and English Learners. Your feedback is critical and the careful consideration of allowable accommodations will greatly impact our students. PARCC will be accepting public comments from April 18 through May 13, 2013.

The draft  PARCC Accommodations Manual is a comprehensive policy document that will support local educators in the selection, administration, and evaluation of accommodations for the assessment of SWD and ELs on the PARCC End-of-Year, Performance-Based, and Mid-Year assessment components.

The majority of the proposed accommodations policies in the Manual are currently in use across PARCC states. What is different from many current state accommodations manuals, however, is that the draft PARCC Manual includes not only proposed participation and accommodations policies for SWD and ELs, but also information about tools that will be provided through PARCC’s computer-based assessment delivery system for all students to optimize their performance on the assessments.

The purpose of the stakeholder input process is to engage and encourage feedback from critical stakeholders to meet four specific objectives:

• Strengthen the draft PARCC Accommodations Manual through strong and targeted feedback from multiple perspectives.
• Build awareness and understanding of the draft Manual among critical stakeholders in states.
• Encourage support and buy-in of the draft Manual by giving critical players and the public the opportunity to engage in the development process.
• Inform the decisions of Governing Board when they vote to adopt the  PARCC Accommodations Manual on June 26, 2013.

After the public comment period, PARCC will review and analyze stakeholder feedback in order to make necessary changes to finalize the Manual. The full PARCC Governing Board will be asked to vote on the adoption of the final first edition of the Manual on June 26, 2013.

There are separate surveys for EL and SWD accommodations to be completed following your review at this link to the PARCC website:
http://parcconline.org/parcc-draft-accommodations-manual

PARCC welcomes your feedback on the draft PARCC Accommodations Manual:

• To share your comments on the proposed accommodations policies for students with disabilities, please complete the feedback survey CLICK HERE.
• To share your comments on the proposed accommodations policies for English learners, please complete the feedback survey CLICK HERE.
• To share comments on both sections of the Manual, please complete both surveys.

PARCC Accommodations Manual – Public Comment FAQ

PARCC Draft Accommodations Manual for SWD EL

If you have any questions please call the Assessment Section at 602.542.5031. 
Thank you for taking the time to review this important document.

Webinar Information

 To view the recorded Webinars, install the GoTo Meeting Codec at no charge.

Getting Started with the TechReadiness Tool Webinar – June 4, 2013

• Recording
• Presentation

Completing Your Data in the TechReadiness Tool Webinar – June 2, 2013

• Recording
• Presentation

Reviewing and Updating Your Completed Data in the TechReadiness Tool Webinar – May30, 2013

• Recording
• Presentation

How to Use the TechReadiness Tool Webinar February 2013

• Recording
• PowerPoint Presentation

 TechReadiness Tool (TRT) Training for GPEMAC (11/13/2012)   PowerPoint presentation

Arizona’s PARCC Technology Readiness Tool (TRT) District Admin Training (Recorded & updated 05/01/2012)

Initial training on the role of the District Administrator for the PARCC Technology Readiness Tool.
AZ PARCC TRT District Admin Training Webinar Presentation April 2012

Frequently Asked Questions

FAQs / Answer Center – Updates – Ongoing

Tech Guidelines for PARCC Assessments FAQs - April 25, 2012

FAQs from TechReadiness: An FAQ document is posted to www.TechReadiness.org/FAQs

Technology Readiness Tool for PARCC Assessments Webinar – FAQs 04-24-2012

Additional Information

Pearson Customer Service: (888) 323-8757

Technology Readiness for College and Career Ready Teaching, Learning and Assessment (SETDA 12/2012)

March 16, 2012: 1st notice sent to Superintendents, Charter Holders, and IT/Ed Tech Directors

Guidance designed to inform schools and districts for new hardware purchases is available here.

View the Online Training Module for the Technology Readiness Tool. The online training is available at http://techreadiness.org/t/TRT_Interim_2013_01-11/launch_interim.html. (updated January 2013) The training will give step-by-step instructions for using the tool.

Review the User’s Guide: A guide to assist you as you use the tool is available at http://www.techreadiness.org/u/TRT_UsersGuide_20130102.pdf (updated January 2013)

Understanding and Interpreting Reports  (January 2013) http://www.techreadiness.org/u/Understanding_and_Interpreting_Reports.pdf

Assess4ed.net is designed to help address the challenges and leverage the opportunities of next-generation assessment systems powered by technology. www.assess4ed.net

State Educational Technology Directors Association (SEDTA) released a draft white paper – Technology Requirements for Large-Scale Computer-Based and Online Assessment: Current Status and Issues – to provide guidance on the “nuts and bolts” of the technology requirements necessary for both PARCC and the SMARTER Balanced Assessment Consortium.

Achieve and the U.S. Education Delivery Institute have developed a practical Common Core Implementation Workbook for all states in the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC). The workbook uses a proven performance management methodology known as “delivery” to lay out clear action steps for states and districts. It provides relevant information, case stories of good practice, key questions and hands-on exercises for leadership teams to complete together. You may download Chapter 7: Take Action: Implementation Action III, Transition Technology and System Assessment here.

PARCC Technology Guidelines

To view the recorded Webinars, install the GoTo Meeting Codec at no charge.

Getting Started with the TechReadiness Tool Webinar – June 4, 2013

• Recording
• Presentation

Completing Your Data in the TechReadiness Tool Webinar – June 2, 2013

• Recording
• Presentation

Reviewing and Updating Your Completed Data in the TechReadiness Tool Webinar – May30, 2013

• Recording
• Presentation

Technology Guidelines for PARCC Assessments – Version 2.1 February 2013
The document provides minimum and recommended specifications for computer hardware, input devices, and security requirements; and suggests recommended levels of bandwidth that will support schools instructional and assessment needs. It does not yet set minimum bandwidth specifications. Schools, districts, and states can use these guidelines to determine the eligibility of existing computers as test-taking devices for the 2014-215 PARCC assessments.

Updates in this version include:

• Clarification about the minimum RAM for iPads running iOS 6.
• Clarifications about the requirements for input devices including touchscreens and Bluetooth/wireless keyboards.
• Clarification about screen resolution requirements.

Smaller tablets (screen size less than 9.5”), e-readers, and smart phones will not be supported and will not be compatible with PARCC assessments for 2014-2015.

BANDWIDTH RECOMMENDATIONS

Minimum bandwidth requirements will be determined based on the final selection of the PARCC assessment delivery platform and the level of multimedia and technology enhanced items in the final assessment design. PARCC will provide minimum specifications by October 2013.

As schools plan for PARCC assessments concurrent with enhancing bandwidth to support instructional needs, PARCC is modeling recommended specifications on those advanced by the State Educational Technology Directors Association in its May 2012 publication The Broadband Imperative: Recommendations to
Address K-12 Education Infrastructure Needs (http://www.setda.org).

Technology Guidelines for PARCC Assessments Version 2.0 refines, and therefore supersedes, the Version 1.0 document previously released in April 2012.

Current updates and additional information are available at: http://www.parcconline.org/technology

Data Extraction Dates

• Friday, June 14, 2013
• Friday, December 13, 2013
• Friday, June 13, 2014
• Monday, August 18, 2014

These data reports will be used by the Smarter Balance and PARCC Consortia to better assess and understand the dimensions of technology readiness at the state, district and school levels.

Assessment Calendar 2012-2013 (Excel file) (updated 12/05/2012)

The Assessment Calendar includes all critical dates for:

• AIMS,
• AIMS A,
• AZELLA, and
• NAEP. 

All dates for November and December 2012, have been confirmed.  Dates for January 2013, through July 2013, are subject to change. This calendar will be updated monthly. Click on the icon above to open the calendar.

For your convenience, this assessment calendar has been provided in an Excel workbook (.xls) format. Once downloaded, select a month to view by opening its corresponding tab located at the bottom of the spreadsheet.  Each month will include dates for all four (4) assessment programs.  For more detailed information for an individual assessment program, you may select the appropriate colored program link inside of the spreadsheet.

Pearson will be extracting the data from the TechReadiness Tool on the following dates (subject to change).

The Arizona Department of Education in collaboration with a national assessment company, Pearson, WestEd and educators around the state of Arizona, has developed a new test for Arizona’s English Language Learners. This new assessment, the Spring 2013 AZELLA, will align closely with Arizona’s English Language Proficiency “ELP” Standards.

The new AZELLA will be used to assess:

• Continuing English Language Learners (January and February 2013)
• Fluent English Proficient (FEP) Year 1 and FEP 2 students (January and February 2013)
• All grades 1-12 students beginning school year 2013-2014

A brand new assessment, the AZELLA Kindergarten Placement Test will be used for the placement of students into Kindergarten English Language Development classrooms starting at the beginning of school year 2012-2013.

English Language Learners from around the state submitted artwork to be considered for the new AZELLA covers.