Starting spring 2019, the State of New Jersey has replaced the math and English language arts (ELA) Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) tests with its respective New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) exams. The NJSLA – Science (NJSLA-S) will be administered in place of the NJASK-Science.
The NJSLA assessments are aligned to the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS). These standards focus on critical thinking skills and are set to test a students’ ability to write, read, listen, speak and solve “real-world” problems. They were developed to try to ensure all students are college and career ready, and were internationally benchmarked to ensure students are academically competitive with their peers around the world. The assessments are also meant to provide feedback to the district regarding the efficacy of the current curriculum and instruction.
Changes:
The online platform will remain the same for both math and ELA. However, the number of test questions will be reduced resulting in a fewer number of math and ELA units.
While the NJASK-Science was administered in grades 4 and 8 while the high school students took an end of course examination in biology, the NJSLA-S will be administered to students in grades 5, 8 and 11. Grade 11 students, similar to the other grades, will now be taking a comprehensive science assessment covering Life, Physical, and Earth & Space Science.
ELA Changes:
The number of test questions will be reduced resulting in fewer ELA units: from three to two units. It also means that there will be a reduction in the amount of time given to students: 75 minutes for grade 3, and 90 minutes for grades 4 through high school. For math the number of questions has been reduced.
Math Changes:
For math grades three to five, the number of units will be reduced from four to three units resulting in a decrease of 60 minutes of testing time. For math grades six to eight, the unit numbers remain at three, but the time will be reduced by 20 minutes, from the original 80 minutes, unit per block resulting in 60 minute units per block and an overall reduction of 60 minutes for the math assessment.
Algebra I will be reduced from three 90 minutes units to two 90 minutes units.
Science Changes:
The NJSLA-S elementary test consists of four 30 minute units, the middle school test has four 45 minute units, and the high school test has four 60 minute units. Students may take two units per day, so the testing may be completed in just two days.