News Article - Massachusetts Department of Elementary and Secondary Education

Invitation to Participate in PARCC "Office Hours"

To:	Principals and Directors of Charter Schools, Educational Collaboratives, Approved Private Special Education Schools, and Institutional Settings Administering PARCC in Spring 2016
Copy:	PARCC Test Coordinators and PARCC Technology Coordinators
From:	Michol Stapel, Acting Associate Commissioner of Student Assessment
Date:	April 1, 2016

The Department's Office of Student Assessment Services will be holding two conference call sessions for schools administering PARCC this spring during the following times:

Department staff will prepare a brief presentation with answers to frequently asked questions, and then there will be an opportunity for questions (similar to schools' "office hours"). Each call will continue as long as there are questions. The sessions will include tips for preparing for test administration such as the following:

setting up test sessions for computer-based testing
additional orders for paper-based testing
policies and logistics for students who transfer during the testing window
policies on accommodations and accessibility features

The first session will also include a review of instructions for the Student Registration/Personal Needs Profile (SR/PNP), since the deadline for updating information for computer-based schools is April 11. The second session may include updates from the first day of PARCC testing (which begins that day). To register, click on the session listed above, and complete the online form. So that we can send out slides and dial-in instructions prior to each call, we ask that you register for the first session by April 7 and register for the second session by April 22. Please note that the conference call service is not toll-free, and you will incur any usual long distance charges. As always, schools and districts can contact Student Assessment Services at 781-338-3625 or parcc@doe.mass.edu during regular business hours for answers to questions. Thank you.

Last Updated: April 5, 2016