New Series of Educational Columns for Parents with Elementary School Children

By Young (Angela) Park
Ridgefield Public Elementary School Teacher

For the past four months, the educational column series has been providing information on education for preschools and kindergartens. Looking ahead, over the next two months, we will introduce a series of columns designed to offer educational insights for parents of elementary school children, provided by an active teacher. In New Jersey, students begin taking state-administered Standardized Tests in the third grade. These columns aim to aid parents in understanding the purpose, timing, and subject matter of these exams, as well as interpreting the test results.

Angela Park, a teacher at Ridgefield Public Schools, hopes her columns will offer valuable assistance and guidance to parents.

Understanding New Jersey's Standardized Tests

New Jersey public elementary schools have been administering standardized testing for over forty years. With varying federal and state regulations and standards, these tests have evolved in both format and title. Familiar tests include the ESPA (1997-2002), NJ ASK (2003-2013), and the PARCC (2014-2017).

Commencing in the 2018-2019 school year, the PARCC was renamed to the NJSLA (NJ Student Learning Assessment). Despite the name change, the format and standards remain consistent, with a reduction in segments and questions. Testing time will be decreased by approximately 25 percent, depending on grade and subject. Students in grades 5, 8, and 11 will continue to take the NJSLA-S (Science) assessment.

The Importance of Test Scores

Many parents are curious about how scores affect their children. Primarily, scores evaluate school performance in relation to state and national standards. Individual school districts determine the use of student scores. While some schools consider scores for class placement, they are merely one factor among many. A student's overall academic performance and teacher recommendations are typically prioritized over a single standardized test score.

Scores offer useful insights into a student's progress, indicating their overall score and performance level. Growth percentiles from the prior year are also available. These scores should be viewed as a formative assessment, guiding educators and parents in identifying areas requiring attention in future studies.

Changing Educational Approaches

The NJSLA, administered to students from grades 3 to 11 in ELA, Math, and Science (for grades 5, 8, and 11), emphasizes critical thinking. Unlike previous tests focused on multiple-choice questions, the NJSLA evaluates students' application of knowledge through open-ended questions. In ELA, students must analyze various texts and justify reasoning with evidence. Math questions require multi-step problem-solving and reasoning explanations.

Recommendations for Parents

Establish a consistent study routine at home with defined expectations.
Ensure your child reads books that match their reading level.
Engage in discussions about their reading.
Encourage keeping a reading response journal for students in grade 3 and above.
Promote expressiveness through family dialogues.
Emphasize a balanced upbringing, stressing both academic and personal development.

Young (Angela) Park