April 16, 2019
Dear Parents/Guardians,
This letter is to inform you of the schedule for the upcoming New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA), which is replacing the PARCC. The NJSLA covers the same content as the PARCC and is also a computer delivered test that is mandated as a graduation test requirement for high school students. Students in grade 9 and 10 will take the NJSLA based on the English and Math course in which they are enrolled. Grade 11 students will take the NJSLA-Science test. The NJSLA is aligned to the NJ Student Learning Standards in Language Arts, Math and Science and is designed to measure if students are on track for college and careers.
We are continuing with a schedule similar to last year so that students can focus on the assessment and complete it in an environment conducive and appropriate to standardized test taking. Students will arrive to school each day at regular time and report to their testing locations. Once they have completed their test, students may get lunch in the school cafeteria. Each day dismissal is expected to be at approximately 12:45 pm. Since it is an online assessment, times may vary due to set-up, technology and the unit time for each assessment. We will adjust as needed. The table below indicates the approximate times needed for testing.
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Wednesday, May 8
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Thursday, May 9
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Testing
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8:30 – 12:45
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Testing
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8:30 – 12:45
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Open Lunch
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12:45 – 1:15
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Open Lunch
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12:45 – 1:15
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Schedule for Seniors and other students who are not enrolled in a tested subject and will NOT be testing:
- Arrive each day by 9:00 a.m. (Attendance will be taken.)
- Wear ID
- Report directly to New Gym
- Bring in signed permission slip(s) for Community Service Project
Below are some reminders for this administration of the NJSLA:
- Students will be testing for over three hours and need to eat breakfast. Please provide breakfast at home on these days or make sure the students are at school in time for the breakfast program. Doors will open for breakfast at 8:00 a.m. If your child gets paid, reduced, or free lunch, the same applies during these days. Breakfast will not be served after 8:20 a.m.
- Snacks will not be sold between testing units. Students are encouraged to bring in water and/or a small snack. Snacks/drinks are NOT permitted in testing rooms.
- Please be sure to have your child well-rested and on time for school. Students are not permitted to enter the testing room once testing has begun. Make certain that your child gets to sleep early and gets up on time for school.
- Cell phones are not permitted in the testing sites. Please reinforce to your child that having a cell phone during the test is a direct violation of state testing procedures and will lead to invalidation of the student’s test as well as serious disciplinary consequences. If a student brings a cell phone to the testing room, it must be turned OFF and turned into the teacher in charge. It will be returned at the conclusion of the test.
- A ‘drop down’ calculator is available on the assessment.
- Certain portions of the test require the use of headsets. We are encouraging students to bring their own ear buds /headsets to school for testing purposes. The earbuds/headsets can NOT have Bluetooth or any type of wireless capability. Bluetooth or wireless headsets are NOT permitted in the test site.
- Students are prohibited from sharing or posting any questions, problems, examples, etc., from the NJSLA test on any social media networks.
- For additional information, please visit the following sites.
Thank you in advance, for your support and cooperation. Also, as a reminder, be sure to check Parent Portal for Marking Period 3 report cards. If you should have any questions or concerns, please feel free to call or email me or your child’s guidance counselor.
Sincerely,
D. D'Amico, Principal