Board hears Start Strong assessment rollout and updated graduation pathways

Assistant Superintendent Lauren Adoxa briefed the board on statewide assessment flexibilities and updated graduation requirements. Adoxa said the State notified districts that administering the Start Strong assessment in the fall will satisfy the federal statewide assessment requirement for the 2020'021 school year, and that the district will train faculty on Sept. 27 with the assessment window beginning Oct. 4. "The start strong assessments that we will be administering are intentionally brief, designed to maximize instructional time, and quickly provide critical data to teachers and school leaders," Adoxa said. She added each assessment is approximately 45 to 60 minutes and provides immediate results to teachers through the assessment platform.

Adoxa also outlined the updated New Jersey high-school graduation pathways adopted by the State Board of Education on Sept. 8, 2021 for the classes of 2022 through 2025. For the Class of 2022, the first pathway is demonstrating proficiency on high-school end-of-year NJSLA assessments in ELA 10 and/or Algebra; the second pathway is meeting the cut score on an approved substitute test (PSAT, SAT, ACT or others); the third option is a portfolio appeal through the district when proficiency was not met on required assessments. Adoxa emphasized districts will provide families with Individual Score Reports following Start Strong so parents have a baseline for teacher conversations.

Board members asked clarifying questions about which grades and subjects will be tested and about accommodations; Adoxa confirmed accessibility features and accommodations used for NJSLA will apply to Start Strong.

The board received the update; staff will provide scheduling details to families and teachers.