Embedded Files
Reporter: Charlotte Lee
The NJSLA tests are not very popular with students, but they are a big deal to the school. NJSLA stands for New Jersey Student Learning Assessments. The NJSLA tests are tests that all public school students in New Jersey take starting from 3rd grade. The scores are given to the Department of Education, but the Ridgewood public schools also see and use your state testing scores.
Dr. Melucci, the Monroe House assistant principal, advises and runs the testing. She says, “The state uses the scores for our district performance reports and specifically by school. Each school gets a school performance report from the New Jersey Department of Education each year. Our performances on the state tests are part of that. As is the participation rate.”
State testing scores and participation are immense factors in the school performance report. The school performance rate has a lot of influence on people who are looking to move and it contributes to the evaluation scores for teachers.
Dr. Melucci also says, “The results are also a part of teacher's evaluation scores. At the end of the year, each teacher gets a rating from 0 to 4 in terms of their effectiveness, and student results on the assessments are incorporated into the math, ELA, and science [teachers’] scores. State testing scores do not typically affect students, but each local school district can use the results in any way they see fit.”
Usually, if the schools have extra funding, then they will provide extra support for the students who might need it. It mostly determines how the students are placed.
Gemma Hedrei is a Godwin House 7th grade student who has not taken the NJSLA tests in a very long time since she had moved away. She says, “I don’t really care about my scores, all I really care about is trying my best and doing what I know but not stressing myself out too much.”
She has not taken an actual NJSLA test since 4th grade.
She says, “I’m a little nervous and I hated them so much when I was younger but I am kind of worried about finishing in the time slot that they give us.”
Avery Kush, a Godwin House 7th grader says, “These tests are important since it depends on whether you get into good classes next year. [The tests accurately reflect my academic growth] because it shows how much you have learned throughout the year and remembered.”
The state tests will take place on Tuesday, May 9th through Friday, May 12th.
Report abuse