Media Alert: PARCC Assessments In English Are Subject Of MSDE Twitter Chat On January 28

MSDE Experts Will Take Questions

For Immediate Release                                                      Contact: Bill Reinhard, 410-767-0486

Baltimore, MD (January 21, 2015)

The Maryland State Department of Education will host a Twitter Chat on January 28, with MSDE specialists responding to questions about the English Language Arts portion of the new Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Career (PARCC)  assessments being implemented throughout the State this school year.

The new PARCC assessments are aligned to the Maryland College and Career-Ready Standards, which are based on the Common Core State Standards, adopted in 2010 and fully implemented in 2013-14.  The new online, advanced assessments feature interactive questions to assess critical-thinking, problem-solving, and communication skills for the first time in addition to the content that students need to know to graduate ready to succeed in college and a career. 

The early evening chat will explore thoughts and questions parents and guardians may have about the PARCC assessments in English Language Arts, such as how these tests differ from the old Maryland School Assessments (MSAs) and ideas for preparing students to take the exams.

Twitter followers @MdPublicSchools are encouraged to ask questions and participate in the discussion using the hashtag, #MSDEChat.

WHO:          MSDE Curriculum and Assessment Specialists

WHAT:         MSDE Twitter Chat

WHEN:         6:30 – 7:30 p.m.
                     Wednesday, January 28

WHERE:       @MdPublicSchools
                     #MSDEChat

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