What are the PARCC Assessments?
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) is a group of states working together to develop a set of assessments that measure whether students are on track to be successful in college and their careers. These high quality, computer-based K–12 assessments in Mathematics and English Language Arts/Literacy give teachers, schools, students, and parents better information whether students are on track in their learning and for success after high school, and tools to help teachers customize learning to meet student needs. The PARCC assessments will be ready for states to administer during the 2014-15 school year.
Our Belief
PARCC is based on the core belief that assessment should work as a tool for enhancing teaching and learning. Because the assessments are aligned with the new, more rigorous Common Core State Standards (CCSS), they ensure that every child is on a path to college and career readiness by measuring what students should know at each grade level. They will also provide parents and teachers with timely information to identify students who may be falling behind and need extra help. Learn more about PARCC in our PARCC FAQs.
PARCC States PARCC is made up of: Arkansas, Colorado, District of Columbia, Illinois, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, Mississippi, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Ohio, and Rhode Island. The states in PARCC educate millions of elementary, middle and high school students across the country. In addition, Pennsylvania is a "participating state." Learn more about the PARCC states.
Resources PARCC has produced a variety of resources for educators, parents, and the public to learn about the assessment system's history and development.
(From the PARCC website http://www.parcconline.org/about-parcc)
Here's a video to provide further explanation of the PARCC Assessments. While the information provided is from Florida it applies to any of the states participating in the PARCC Assessment.