2021-2022 Testing & Assessments

Why NJ Start Strong assessments this year?

New Jersey students did not take the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA) last year as a result of COVID-19. The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) notified districts that the administration of the Start Strong assessment in the Fall 2021 will satisfy the federal statewide assessment requirement to administer general assessments in English language arts (ELA), mathematics, and science for the previous 2020-2021 school year. The Start Strong assessments are intentionally brief, designed to maximize instructional time and quickly provide critical data to teachers and school leaders. These assessments will help guide us in helping your child based on the unique needs of this school year.

The Start Strong assessments:

• Are available to NJ school districts at no cost;

• Are intended to provide an optimal resource for in-class feedback and support;

• Are based on a subset of prioritized prior-year academic standards;

• Are available in ELA (grades 7-10), Mathematics (grades 7-8); Algebra I, Geometry, and Algebra II, and in Science (grades 9 and 12);

• Can be administered in approximately 45-60 minutes;

• Will provide immediate results to school staff through the assessment platform; and

• Include the same accessibility features and accommodations as the NJSLA, including forms in Spanish and Text to Speech (TTS).

The Central Regional School District will be administering the Start Strong assessments to students between October 5th and October 22nd. You will be provided with an Individual Student Report (ISR) in December. If you would like additional information, you can access the following link: NJ Start Strong Parent Resources

Results of the Start Strong assessments will be available from the State in mid-December.