Mandatory state testing changed a bit for students in New Jersey. The “adaptive” part of the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments-Adaptive (NJSLA-A) is new. The difficulty of questions changes based on how a student answers.
Jessica Espinoza, the principal at Patrick M. Villano School, explained the purpose of the test: “To measure student proficiency in a way that can be compared to every student in public schools in New Jersey. This holds schools accountable for student learning of the curriculum and the state standards. ”
During the week of May 4 to May 8, students in grades four through six were tested on their Math and Engligh-Language Arts knowledge with mostly multiple-choice questions. Two days consisted of 75 minutes of Math; two days consisted of 75 minutes of reading; and one day consisted of a 90 minute writing task.
“The information NJSLA gives us as a school allows us to match students with the appropriate support they need to be successful in school,” Espinoza added.
Now that it’s over, students have returned to their daily schedules. Sixth-grade student, Nicholas DeCarlo said he’s relieved testing is done.
“All in all, I feel like test week was pretty slow, but after the testing was over, I feel like students were relieved,” DeCarlo said.
Testing didn’t end for everyone at the same time, however. Fifth-grade students had an additional four days of testing for 45 minutes each morning in the area of Science.
