N.J. students - THE RIDGEWOOD BLOG.

Posted on October 21, 2015 October 21, 2015

PARCC test results: Most N.J. students did not meet grade-level expectations

OCTOBER 20, 2015, 3:47 PM LAST UPDATED: TUESDAY, OCTOBER 20, 2015, 9:46 PM
BY HANNAN ADELY
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD

WEST TRENTON – Most New Jersey students failed to meet grade-level expectations in math and English language arts on new state tests, according to results released Tuesday, seven months after tests were given amid controversy and a test boycott.

But officials urged caution in looking at scores because the tests, they said, are based on new and tougher standards compared to those of previous years. While the scores cannot be used to measure growth, officials said, they could provide a wake-up call for schools to see where instruction is failing and where students need the most help.

“This is from spring of 2015,” said Education Commissioner David Hespe. “We need to consider that is not a lot of time. So our expectation is not that we’re going to have every child on track for career and college. That is not going to happen in a short amount of time. Our goal is to remain committed to a continuum of improvement over time.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/parcc-test-results-most-n-j-students-did-not-meet-grade-level-expectations-1.1436868

Posted on September 10, 2015 September 10, 2015

N.J. students offered reprieve from statewide exams

SEPTEMBER 9, 2015, 4:52 PM LAST UPDATED: THURSDAY, SEPTEMBER 10, 2015, 12:08 AM
BY HANNAN ADELY
THE RECORD

High school juniors in New Jersey will be allowed to forgo controversial state tests in English language arts — exams many had already been skipping — if they take other high-level exams in the subject, the state education commissioner announced Wednesday.

The change comes amid a backlash from parents and educators who argue that too much testing is creating stress and taking up valuable teaching time. Many parents refused to let their children take state tests last spring, even though the state required them for all students in Grades 3 to 11 in math and English.

“We are cognizant of testing time and demands,” Education Commissioner David Hespe said Wednesday. “After lots of conversations, we think this is a smart move and the right way to reflect that students in 11th grade are taking challenging course work.”

https://www.northjersey.com/news/some-n-j-high-school-juniors-will-be-able-to-skip-state-english-tests-1.1406218

Posted on January 29, 2014 April 9, 2020

N.J. students in low-income districts struggle on SATs

N.J. students in low-income districts struggle on SATs

No seniors at Paterson’s Eastside High School campus last year did well enough on the SATs to meet the College Board’s threshold for being “college ready.”

In Bergen County, 13 percent of Garfield High School seniors who took the SAT hit that benchmark, along with 18 percent of their counterparts atLyndhurst High School, according to the new School Performance Reports released Tuesday.

At a time when helping students become “college ready” is a mantra for New Jersey education officials, a startling share in many poor and moderate-income districts failed to meet the score deemed by the College Board to predict probable success in college — 1,550 points out of a possible 2,400.

That benchmark has been in the spotlight since Camden Schools Superintendent Paymon Rouhanifard used it last month to say it hit him like a “kick in the stomach” to learn that only three students in his city tested as college-ready. Governor Christie jumped on the figure in his recent State of the State speech to argue for his education agenda, including merit pay for teachers and a longer academic day.

The College Board, which administers the SAT, says that students who hit the benchmark have a 65 percent or greater chance of earning at least a B-minus average in their freshman year of college, and are likely to get a degree. Studies show SAT scores are highly correlated with parents’ income and education level.

The SAT is much harder than the state’s graduation exam. Indeed, in 46 of the 71 public high schools in Bergen and Passaic counties, most of the seniors who took the SAT did not hit 1,550. The Bergen County Academies, a selective magnet, fared the best, with 98 percent of its students hitting that target or better.

Education Commissioner Chris Cerf said low SAT scores in many districts — among other indicators – showed the urgent need to raise the bar for learning. (Brody/The Record)

https://www.northjersey.com/news/NJ_students_in_low-income_districts_struggle_on_SATs.html#sthash.j5ZSgGi9.dpuf