Gov. Phil Murphy recently signed a law that requires the State Board of Education to administer the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment as a field test for the class of 2023, according to a broadcast memo from the New Jersey Department of Education.
The new law, P.L.2022, c.60, requires that the NJGPA be administered as a field test for grade 11 students who are expected to graduate as part of the class of 2023. This law also prohibits the results of the NJGPA field test (First Pathway), a substitute competency test (Second Pathway), or portfolio appeal (Third Pathway) from being used as a prerequisite for graduation for students expected to graduate in the class of 2023.
As a result of this recent legislation, the following NJGPA administration events are impacted:
- Summer 2022 NJGPA administration: The summer NJGPA administration, scheduled for July 25 to August 5, is cancelled. This does not impact the summer New Jersey Student Learning Assessment, which will continue as scheduled.
- NJGPA fall administration: The fall NJGPA administration, scheduled for Nov. 28 to Dec. 9, is cancelled. This does not impact the NJSLA fall block administration, which will continue as scheduled.
Graduation Assessment Requirements for the Class of 2023
Consistent with the above law, there is no graduation assessment requirement for any student who is expected to graduate with the class of 2023. The graduation assessment requirements for the classes of 2024 and 2025 remain in place and are available for districts on the Graduation Assessment Requirements webpage.
If you have any questions, contact the NJDOE’s Office of Assessments. The office can also be reached by phone at 609-376-3960.
LEAs Must Administer ‘Start Strong’ in Fall 2022
On July 13, the NJDOE issued a broadcast memo providing an overview of the fall 2022 Start Strong administration. The memo includes key dates, information and resources that districts will need to prepare for administration of Start Strong this fall.
The memo affirms that “[p]ursuant to Commissioner’s regulatory authority, local educational agencies (LEAs) are required to administer the Start Strong assessment as part of the overall Statewide assessment system.” Start Strong assessments will be administered in-person from Aug. 31 through Sept. 30. Per the NJDOE, “[a]ll students, including students with disabilities who are not eligible for the Dynamic Learning Maps (DLM) assessments and English Language Learners, will be expected to participate in the Start Strong assessments.”