The Tabernacle School District will take part in a field test of a new assessment that will replace the current NJ ASK for the 2014–15 school year.
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers is a group of 20 states coming together to develop a common set of kindergarten- through 12th-grade assessments in English and math based on what it takes to be ready for college and careers. The assessment will be conducted online and is interactive for students and teachers. PARCC received a $186 million grant through the U.S. Department of Education to support the development and design of the next-generation assessment system.
The fifth-grade class at Olson Middle School will partake in the assessment as well as eighth-grade algebra students who will take part in only the algebra portion of the exam. The field test will allow the Tabernacle schools to get a preview of what the assessment will look like a year early.
“Our district is in a position with upgraded technology, robust Wi-Fi and our laptop carts to be a great place for these field tests to take place,” superintendent George Rafferty said. “Having the proper technology and network in place will now allow our teachers and students the opportunity to see this assessment before it is a part of the curriculum next year.”
Students in Tabernacle are accustomed to taking interactive assessments online, so Rafferty felt the transition would be an easy one.
“We have utilized online assessments in the past for our students in kindergarten through second grade and have looked to expand that to third through eighth grade. Our students are in a position where they will be used to completing assessments online,” Rafferty said.
In other news:
• The district will refinance bonds at a lower rate in hopes of saving hundreds of thousands of dollars over the next decade. Tabernacle has carried debt at a rate of approximately 4 percent. The new rate would be closer to 3 percent, saving the district $340,000–350,000 over the next 11 years.
• Members of the board conducted walkthroughs at both Olson Middle School and Tabernacle Elementary School before the start of the academic year. President Michael Lee said the board enjoyed having the opportunity to see where the money from resolutions it has approved was actually going. He was also impressed with how the classrooms were set up and was hopeful for more tours in the future.
• The board is currently in negotiations with Rafferty about an extension to his contract. According to Lee, they are still working on a draft, and once a tentative agreement is reached, it will be presented at a future meeting for public comment.
• One additional teacher in-service day for professional training has been added to the school calendar on Friday, March 7. Because students will now have that day off, a day had to be added to the end of the school calendar to meet the state-required 180 days. Classes will now end on June 18 with a half-day for students followed by graduation that evening.
• The next board of education meeting is scheduled for Monday, Oct. 21 at 7 p.m. in OMS.
