The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) has put out a call for input from school board members, superintendents, teachers, test administrators, parents and caregivers, students and others about how to best transition to the next generation of statewide assessments.
In a broadcast memo sent on April 27 to the state’s local school district leaders, Acting Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet said stakeholder input will play an integral role in NJDOE’s short- and long-term plans for, and improvements to, the statewide assessment program.
“The NJDOE is particularly interested in perspectives on the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC), which is the current statewide assessment in math and English language arts/literacy,” the acting commissioner said in the memo, which he encouraged districts to forward to staff and families. “Public input is needed to determine what elements of the statewide assessment program work well, and what areas need improvement.’
One way for people to engage is through Statewide Assessment Collaboratives. These collaboratives will represent interested stakeholders from across New Jersey who have direct and diverse experiences with the realities of statewide assessments and who represent various New Jersey education and community stakeholder groups. The collaboratives will meet for a single half-day to reflect on experiences and to form recommendations for the future of statewide assessment in New Jersey.
Those interested in participating in a Statewide Assessment Collaborative should complete and submit an online interest form by May 8 at 11:59 p.m. Locations and other details will be published by May 11.
Additional ways to engage include:
- Watch an online recorded webinar and complete a questionnaire (details will be available on the NJDOE Assessments webpage later in the month).
- Contact NJDOE via email if you have any comments or questions regarding the statewide assessment program. Specific recommendations to enhance the current program or support for elements of the current program are encouraged.
All feedback will be recorded, responded to, and included in planning for the future of assessment in New Jersey.
As noted in a March 6, 2018 NJDOE memo to school districts, following these conversations the NJDOE will present a plan to transition to New Jersey’s next generation of standardized statewide assessments. In the meantime, the current statewide assessments, as well as federal and state accountability and graduation requirements, all remain in effect until changes to the regulations are announced.