With spring coming around the corner, students are familiar with the annual standardized testing.

Due to the Performance Evaluation Reform Act (PERA) law being passed, schools in Illinois are required to take several of the approved tests (PARCC, DLM-AA, ACCESS, ACT & WorkKeys, and NAEP). One of the tests LZHS has decided to take is the PARCC test, which some freshmen will take next Tuesday, March 3.

During the testing day, freshmen in English 1 and Algebra 1 will take the PARCC test, sophomores will take a retired ACT test, the juniors will take a free ACT test the state provides, and seniors will attend a presentation concerning the transition from high school to college.

“The Common Core standards were adopted by the state of Illinois, and if you take a look at the teacher evaluation laws passed recently, one of the components is that you have to have a test that is in-line with the Common Core state standards,” Eric Hamilton, assistant principal for curriculum and instruction, said. “There are two companies, and Illinois went with the PARCC test…the state came back with the option to test English 1 and Algebra 1, or English 2 and Geometry. At the same time, the state is providing a free ACT test to juniors, and that date is set and there is no window. So by choosing the English 1 and Algebra 1 option, we are able to assess freshmen, give a retired ACT to the sophomores, and give the free ACT test to juniors on the same day. It seems more effective with regards to gathering data for students and teachers.”

Despite the test they are administering, all the teachers had to attend training meetings.

“If you are administering PARCC you went to two trainings, which were about what you can and can’t do during the test,” Hamilton said. “The other was how to give the test because it is a computer based assessment so the teacher has to be on the computer to monitor it. Every other teacher was involved in some type of training on this Tuesday. Some teachers received training on what they are going to be doing for sophomores in the Fieldhouse. Others got training on how to give the ACT. Because seniors are also invited to come to the PAC, so some teachers were given training on what was expected of them and how we are managing that as well.”

While the rest of the student body is testing, seniors are to attend a presentation in the PAC.

“This presentation idea was a conversation between myself and Mr. [Carl] Krause [college and career counselor],” Hamilton said. “We are having a day of instruction and we don’t want to say [to seniors], ‘don’t come to school’ but we also did not want to give seniors a test. So we said ‘what are some topics of interest,’ and I asked Krause to investigate, and I think he has found some really good speakers on some relevant topics.”

Krause said he believes the presentation will provide useful information about college life and he said he thinks the presentation will be entertaining.

“The first presentation is about Greek life, and all three speakers have been involved, so it will be like a discussion panel,” Krause said. “Then there will be a ‘Day in the Life’ section and the speaker will talk about getting involved in clubs and such. For the resident life part, a former resident hall director will talk, and to wrap it up, Detective Fry will go through legalities you will face during college. I believe it is all pertinent information and the presentation is worthwhile.”