230,000 CPS students prepare to take PARCC exam despite controversy

CHICAGO (WLS) -- Next week, more than 230,000 eligible Chicago Public Schools students will take the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers, or PARCC exams.

"We're pleased that CPS is going to give this test and give all students in CPS the opportunity to show their performance against this new, more meaningful test," said Mary Fergus, spokesperson for the Illinois Board of Education.

Initially, the state's largest school district opted out of giving the test, but did an about-face Monday, as the CEO of CPS said there was the possibility of losing funds otherwise.

"We've been hearing from school leaders, administrators, principals, teachers all over the state that the test is not ready," said Wendy Katten, director of Raise Every Hand.

Raise Your Hand is a parent group that is ramping up efforts to show parents how to get their children out of taking the tests.

Amy de la Fuente says her two children will opt out. She says the tests take away from valuable teaching time and are not a true assessment of a student's ability.

"Students need opportunity to learn and there needs to be a purpose. How does this inform teacher instruction?" she said.

The State Assessment Review Committee discussed the content and design of the test Tuesday, which had the input of hundreds of teachers.

"It doesn't appear that most kids are experiencing it to be real challenge at all," said Paul Zavitkovsky, State Assessment Review Committee. "Adults are justifiably concerned but at the kid level, I haven't heard a lot of resistance."

Even though districts will be required to give the PARCC exams, it is up to each district to flush out how it wants to handle an "opt out" policy.

The test is for third through eighth graders and some high school students.