1. science
2. mathematics
3. algebra

Why, What, and Who?
The federal No Child Left Behind Act
(NCLB) requires that all students be
tested annually in English Language
Arts (ELA) and mathematics in grades
3-11. (Students in grade 12 will not
take a PARCC assessment regardless
of the courses in which they are
enrolled.) This year New Jersey will be
replacing the NJASK and HSPA tests
with the Partnership for Assessment of
Readiness for College and Careers
(PARCC) assessments.
Central Administration
Jill. Takacs Ed.D
Assistant Superintendent for
Curriculum and Instruction
Marjorie Caruso
District Director for Mathematics and
Science
Charlene O’Hagan
District Director for Humanities
Mary Ellen Walker
District Director for Operations
Kim Pickus
District Director for Assessment
At the high school the tests are for
specific subjects. Students are tested in
the following classes: English 9,
English 10, English 11, Algebra I,
Geometry, and Algebra II. If a student
takes Algebra I in grade 8, they will be
tested in Algebra I (and will not be
taking the other grade 8 mathematics
assessment). Students enrolled in
multiple math courses that have
a PARCC assessment, will only take
the assessment for either Algebra I or
Algebra II.
Middletown
Public Schools
Preparing for
W il l ia m O . G eo rg e I II E d.D
Su p e ri nt e n d e nt o f Sc ho ol s
Mid dl et o w n Pu bl ic Sc h ool s
PO B o x 41 70
Mid dl et o w n, N J 07 74 8
Ph on e ( 73 2) 67 1 - 3 85 0
mi ddl e to w nk 12. o rg
About the PARCC Assessments
21 st Century Skills
Technology and PARCC
Hardware
Students will be using desktops and
or laptop-type computers. Using
these devices creates a need for
students to feel comfortable typing
their responses using a keyboard and
using a mouse or trackpad.
Accommodations will be made for
students with special needs.
Computer Skills
Students should be familiar with the
following computer skills to be able
to perform to the best of the ability
come PARCC.
 Drag and Drop
 Select/Deselect
 Highlight
 Redo
 Undo
 Hover
 Single click
 Scroll Bars
 Play and pause videos
Typing expectations
According to PARCC, students in
grade six are expected “to
demonstrate sufficient keyboarding
skills to type a minimum of three
pages in a single sitting.”
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21st Century Question Types
The PARCC offers more opportunities to
asses different kinds of skills, reasoning,
relationships, and interactivity, including:
 Matched Pairs
 Constructed Response
 Hot Text
 Hot Spot
 Cloze
 Fill in the Blank
 Sequence
 Multiple Choice
 Multiple Response
 Graphical Gap Match
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Math Skills
Solve Complex problems, Show
work, and demonstrate how they
solved the problem.
Reason abstractly and quantitatively
Construct viable arguments to
support mathematical work
Critique the mathematical reasoning
of others
Model and apply mathematics in a
real world context or scenario
Use appropriate mathematical tools
strategically to solve problems
Attend precession
Look for and make use of structure
Look for and express regularity in
repeated reasoning
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Reading Skills
Comprehend and evaluate a range of
complex literature across disciplines
Construct written arguments that
convey information clearly and
accurately
Demonstrate command of standard
English language conventions
Demonstrate a solid understanding of a
wide range of grade appropriate
vocabulary when reading, writing,
speaking, and listening
Cite specific evidence to support
written interpretations of literature and
informational texts
Make reasoning clear to a reader and
evaluate others’ use of textual evidence
to support reasoning
Read and interpret classic and
contemporary works of literature that
represent a variety of periods, cultures,
and worldviews
Evaluate other points of view critically
and constructively.