The Massachusetts Board of Elementary and Secondary Education
PARCC Public Forums
At the request of Governor Baker and Lt. Governor Polito, the Board and the Department will be hosting a series of public forums on the upcoming decision on whether to sunset the Massachusetts Comprehensive Assessment System (MCAS) and adopt the Partnership for the Assessment of College and Careers (PARCC). Here are the tentative dates and times:
- Tuesday, April 28, 2015, 3:00 - 6:00 p.m. (following the regular Board meeting)
- Monday, May 18, 2015, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, June 9, 2015, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
- Monday, June 22, 2015, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
- Tuesday, July 7, 2015, 4:00 - 7:00 p.m.
The forums will be held at various locations throughout the state. In addition to hearing testimony from members of the public, the forums may also include brief presentations from educators on topics such as test administration, college and career readiness, alignment with the curriculum frameworks, implications for classroom instruction, and online testing.
Members of the public who are unable to testify at one of the forums will be given the opportunity to submit written comments. I also expect that there will be additional opportunity for public comment next fall, when we approach the time for the Board's decision.
We will discuss these plans during the PARCC update at this month's regular Board meeting.