N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:8-4.1

Current through Register Vol. 56, No. 21, November 4, 2024

Section 6A:8-4.1 - Statewide assessment system

(a) The Commissioner, in accordance with 18A:7C-1 et seq., and 18A:7E-2 and 3, may implement assessment of student achievement in the State's public schools in any grade(s) and by such assessments as he or she deems appropriate. The Commissioner shall report to the State Board the results of such assessments.

(b) The Commissioner shall implement a system and related schedule of Statewide assessments to evaluate student achievement of the NJSLS.

1. The Commissioner, with the approval of the State Board, shall define the scope and level of student performance on Statewide assessments that demonstrate thorough understanding of the knowledge and skills delineated by the NJSLS at grade levels three through 12.

2. After consultation with the Commissioner, the State Board shall establish by resolution uniform Statewide criteria defining adequate school district progress toward meeting the NJSLS.

(c) District boards of education shall, according to a schedule prescribed by the Commissioner, administer the applicable Statewide assessments, including the following major components: the elementary assessment component for grades three through five; the middle school assessment component for grades six through eight, the high school assessment component, and the alternative State assessment for students with disabilities and provide notification to each student entering grades three through 12 of the Statewide assessment schedule.

1. The Department shall implement the elementary component of the Statewide assessment of the NJSLS consisting of the following:

i. Continued administration of mathematics and English language arts in grades three, four, and five, and of science in grade five.

2. The Department shall implement the middle school component of the Statewide assessment of the NJSLS consisting of the following:

i. Continued administration of mathematics and English language arts in grades six, seven, and eight, and of science in grade eight.

3. The Department shall implement a high school component of the Statewide assessment of the NJSLS consisting of, at a minimum, English language arts, mathematics, and science, in accordance with State and Federal law.

(d) Pursuant to (b) and (c) above, all students at grade levels three through 12, and at any other grade(s) designated by the Commissioner pursuant to (a) above, shall take all appropriate Statewide assessments as scheduled.

1. District boards of education shall provide all appropriate accommodations or modifications to the Statewide assessment system as specified by the Department for MLs and students with disabilities as defined at N.J.A.C. 6A:14-1.3 or eligible pursuant to Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act as specified in a student's IEP or 504 plan.

i. District boards of education may administer the Statewide assessments in mathematics to MLs in their native language, when available, and/or English.

ii. District boards of education shall have the option for a first-year ML of substituting a Department-approved language proficiency test only for the English language arts component of the Statewide assessment, when the student has entered the United States after June 1 of the calendar year prior to the test administration.

2. District boards of education shall ensure students with disabilities as defined in 6A:14-1.3 participate in Statewide assessments in accordance with 6A:14-4.1 0.

3. At specific times prescribed by the Commissioner, district boards of education shall administer the alternative State assessment for students with disabilities to students with severe disabilities who cannot participate in other assessments due to the severity of their disabilities.

i. The Department shall implement the alternative State assessment for students with disabilities according to the schedules at (c)1, 2, and 3 above.

ii. The alternative State assessment for students with disabilities measures the progress of students who have been determined eligible for the alternative State assessment for students with disabilities by the IEP team in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:14-4.10.

iii. The Department shall also implement an approved English language proficiency assessment to measure the progress in English language proficiency of MLs with an IEP who have been determined eligible by the IEP team for an alternative Department-approved English language proficiency assessment for students with disabilities.

4. District boards of education shall implement alternative ways for students to demonstrate graduation proficiency in accordance with N.J.A.C. 6A:8-5.1(a)6, (f), (g), (h), or (i), as applicable.

(e) District boards of education shall be responsible for ensuring the security of all components of the Statewide assessment system that are administered within the school district.

N.J. Admin. Code § 6A:8-4.1

Amended by 48 N.J.R. 1790(b), effective 9/6/2016

Administrative Change, 48 N.J.R. 1802(a).

Amended by 50 N.J.R. 1352(a), effective 6/4/2018

Amended by 53 N.J.R. 1676(a), effective 10/4/2021

Administrative Change, 56 N.J.R. 890(a) effective 4/22/2024