Dear USR Families,
This May, students in grades 3–8 will participate in the New Jersey Student Learning Standards Assessment (NJSLA), the standardized assessment for Mathematics and English Language Arts (ELA). Additionally, students in grades 5 and 8 will take the Science assessment. These assessments are an opportunity for students to showcase their learning while also providing the district with meaningful feedback about students’ progress.
Our teachers will be preparing students by reviewing sample problems that expose them to technological aspects of the test, such as drag/drop and multiple select answers. We find that sharing sample problems with students can help instill confidence and comfort while navigating the online assessment. Additional information can be found at NJ Pearson Support (Math and ELA) and MEAS Inc. NJ (Science).
To ensure a smooth testing experience, we have planned the following schedule:
Infrastructure Trial (Grades 3–8)
Tuesday, April 29th – A practice session to prepare students and staff while testing the technology.
Science Assessment (Grades 5 & 8)
Tuesday, May 6th – Units 1 & 2
Wednesday, May 7th – Units 3 & 4
Thursday, May 8th & Friday, May 9th – Make-up testing
ELA Assessment (Grades 3–8)
Monday, May 12th – Unit 1
Tuesday, May 13th – Unit 2
Mathematics Assessment (Grades 3–8)
Wednesday, May 14th – Unit 1
Thursday, May 15th – Unit 2
Friday, May 16th – Unit 3 (Algebra 1 consists of only two units and will not test on this day.)
Make-Up Testing (ELA & Mathematics)
May 19th – May 30th
Additional testing times for each unit can be found here.
Testing Materials
Students will need earbuds or headphones for the assessments. We recommend bringing a simple, corded pair (high-end models are not necessary). If your child is unable to bring their own, the district will provide them for use during testing. In addition, please ensure students in grades 5-8 bring their charged Chromebook each day.
We appreciate your support in ensuring that students are prepared and well-rested for these assessments. If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to reach out to Daniel Cazes at dcazes@usrschoolsk8.com or 201-961-6377.
Thank you for your support and partnership in your child’s education!
Sincerely,
Daniel Cazes
Director of Technology
District Test Coordinator