2 Million Mark

More than two million PARCC test sessions have now been completed online in the 11 states and the District of Columbia, which make up the PARCC consortium. The milestone was reached shortly before noon today EST. In addition to the online tests, about a quarter of all students in the group of states will take the test on paper with pencil.

Since February 16, schools in Arkansas, the District of Columbia, Colorado, Illinois, Ohio, Maryland, Mississippi, New Jersey and New Mexico have started testing. Louisiana, Massachusetts and Rhode Island will start testing soon.

For the third day in a row, more than a million students in a single day are testing on the online platform.

Teachers, test coordinators, principals and others involved at the district and school level prepared in recent months for the assessment by testing devices and getting students ready for the new testing experience.

Five million students in 11 states and the District of Columbia will take the PARCC test this year. The PARCC assessment is a single test in two parts – the performance-based component, administered in early spring, and the end-of-year component, administered near the end of the school year. Students are currently participating in performance-based components in English language arts and mathematics.

Both components of the test are essential to getting a complete picture of student understanding and achievement. Together, they measure the full range of the learning standards, including knowledge, concepts and skills.

Educators from the states have led the development of the assessments.

Featured

  • S4L Announces 2026 Education Design Showcase Winners

    Spaces4Learning is thrilled to announce the winners of the 2026 Education Design Showcase! Now in its 27th year, the annual awards program honors innovative solutions in planning, design, architecture, and construction across K–12 and higher education.

  • Washington State District Breaks Ground on New Elementary School

    Cheney School District No. 360 in Spokane County, Wash., recently announced that construction has begun on a new elementary school, according to local news. The district held a groundbreaking ceremony on May 18 in Airway Heights for the yet-to-be-named school, which is scheduled to open in fall 2027.

  • University of Kansas Breaks Ground on Entrepreneurship Hub

    The University of Kansas in Lawrence, Kan., recently held a groundbreaking ceremony for the new KU Entrepreneurship Hub, according to university news. The Hub is part of the university’s School of Business and will include spaces for experiential learning and programming.

  • USC Launches Major AI Initiative After $200M Gift

    The University of Southern California in Los Angeles, Calif., recently announced that it has launched a “transformational” new AI initiative thanks to a $200M gift, according to a news release. The project will leverage AI toward breakthroughs and innovations in subjects like the health sciences, business, security, and the arts.