New Jersey Student Learning Assessment–Science (NJSLA–S)
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New Jersey Grade Student Learning Assessment–Science 11 (NJSLA–S) Grado Parent, Student, and Teacher Information Guide Guía de información para Grade 11 los padres, los alumnos y los maestros Spring 2020 Primavera de 2020 Copyright © 2020 by the New Jersey Department of Education. All rights reserved. Table of Contents Parent Information ...........................................................................................................................1 Description of the NJ Student Learning Assessment-Science (NJSLA–S) ................................1 The NJSLA–S Experience ...........................................................................................................1 1. Who will be tested? .................................................................................................................1 2. What types of questions are on the NJSLA–S? ......................................................................1 3. How can a child prepare for the NJSLA–S? ...........................................................................2 4. How long is the 2020 test? ......................................................................................................2 5. How fair is the NJSLA–S? ......................................................................................................2 6. How can I receive more information about the NJSLA–S? ...................................................2 Student Information .........................................................................................................................3 1. What is the NJSLA–S? ...........................................................................................................3 2. What are the questions like on the NJSLA–S? .......................................................................3 3. What should I expect when I take the NJSLA–S? ..................................................................3 4. What else should I know about taking the NJSLA–S? ...........................................................3 Sample Questions.............................................................................................................................4 Answers to Sample Questions .......................................................................................................12 Informacin para los padres ...........................................................................................................13 Descripción de la Evaluación de aprendizaje del alumno de Nueva Jersey: Ciencias (NJSLA–S) .................................................................................................................13 La experiencia de la evaluación NJSLA–S ...............................................................................13 1. ¿A quiénes se evaluará? ........................................................................................................13 2. ¿Qué tipos de preguntas incluye la evaluacin NJSLA–S? ..................................................13 3. ¿Cómo puede prepararse el alumno para la evaluacin NJSLA–S? .....................................14 4. ¿Cuánto dura el examen de 2020? ........................................................................................14 5. ¿Qué tan justa es la evaluación NJSLA–S? ..........................................................................14 6. ¿Cómo puedo recibir más informacin sobre la evaluacin NJSLA–S? ..............................15 Informacin para los alumnos ........................................................................................................16 1. ¿Qué es la evaluación NJSLA–S?.........................................................................................16 2. ¿Cómo son las preguntas en la evaluacin NJSLA–S? ........................................................16 3. ¿Qué puedo esperar cuando haga la evaluacin NJSLA–S? ................................................16 4. ¿Qué más debo saber acerca de la evaluación NJSLA–S? ...................................................16 Preguntas de muestra .....................................................................................................................17 Respuestas a preguntas de muestra ................................................................................................25 iii iv Parent Information Description of the NJ Student Learning For a student with a disability who takes the Assessment-Science (NJSLA–S) NJSLA–S, an Individualized Education The New Jersey Student Learning Program (IEP) or Section 504 plan Assessment for Science (NJSLA–S) determines the extent to which measures student proficiency based on New accommodations are used on state assessments. Jersey’s state standards. The science Students who are deemed exempt from the standards require students to use science and NJSLA–S test because of significant engineering practices, disciplinary core ideas, cognitive disabilities will take the Dynamic and crosscutting concepts, in an integrated Learning Maps (DLM) Science Assessment. way, to make sense of phenomena or to This assessment is also a computer-based design solutions to problems. The shift from assessment. Contact your child’s teacher or an emphasis on measuring students’ ability to case manager if you have questions about remember facts to an emphasis on students’ which state assessment your child will take, ability to use their understandings in new and or which accommodations and modifications novel situations requires a shift in how may be available to your child during state students are assessed. The assessment tasks assessments. examine students’ performance of scientific and engineering practices in the context of In response to New Jersey’s diverse language crosscutting concepts and disciplinary core population, the Department will offer ideas. The three-dimensional nature of the Spanish-language tests for 2020 in science. standards requires more complex assessment Please contact your school district for items and tasks. additional information. This assessment is only one component of a 2. What types of questions are on the system of assessments that provide evidence NJSLA–S? about student learning. The data collected from the students’ interactions with teachers The NJSLA–S contains several types of test on a daily basis, their subsequent questions. Students will answer multiple- performance on teacher- and district- choice questions, multi-select questions, developed assessments, and the NJSLA–S drag-and-drop, and constructed-response combine to provide a clear and well-rounded items and tasks. picture of students’ achievement. Multiple-choice questions require students to The NJSLA–S Experience choose one correct answer from among the The NJSLA–S is a computer-based answer choices. Multi-select questions assessment. The tools that students will use require students to choose more than one are the same as they have experienced with correct answer from the choices given. their mathematics and English language arts Questions like these add much to the exams. The science assessment is also reliability and consistency of the test because available as paper booklets for students who many questions that focus on a broad range require this accommodation. of skills can be answered by the student in a 1. Who will be tested? short span of time. These questions are scored electronically. All students in grades 5, 8, and 11 will take a science assessment. This includes most The NJSLA–S also contains several types of children with educational disabilities and open-ended questions. These questions most children whose English language skills require students to write long or short are limited. Whenever possible, decisions as responses, fill in a blank, complete tables, or to which accommodations and/or use information in a table to make accessibility features are used by a student predictions. These types of questions require during testing should be based on the support students to use critical thinking skills to given to students in their usual classroom express what they know. Many of these instruction. All students can receive questions require hand scoring by trained accessibility features on NJSLA–S. professionals. 1 3. How can a child prepare for the 5. How fair is the NJSLA–S? NJSLA–S? The New Jersey Student Learning The best preparation for the NJSLA science Assessment for Science (NJSLA–S) assessment is a high-quality science measures student proficiency with the New education program. The New Jersey Jersey Student Learning Standards for Department of Education has Science to ensure that assessment items and published Parent Information documents, tasks are reviewed by practicing New Jersey https://www.state.nj.us/education/aps/cccs/ educators. The Science Assessment science/parent/, that describe what your Committees are composed of practicing child’s science curriculum should look like. teachers, child-study team members, and Working as partners with your child’s school, administrators knowledgeable about general parents and guardians promote academic education students and students with special success by ensuring students make choices needs. The committees carefully review all that include a well-balanced diet, plenty of test materials to ensure that the questions are sleep, and keeping up with school work. fair, congruent with the science standards, and not deemed offensive to any group of Throughout the school year, parents and people. guardians can also be actively