NJASK...Why?

The NJASK is the New Jersey assessment of Skills and Knowledge and every student in grades 3 through 8 in all New Jersey Schools are required to take it. Every spring, teachers are biting their nails, students are sleepless and anxious and administrators are barking orders as the stress overtakes us all.  Unfortunately it all comes down to the all mighty dollar.  If students don't do well, the schools don't make their AYP or Annual Yearly Progress and the schools could lose funding or worse, lose their sovereignty as the state takes over.  Every teacher will tell you that the assessment is too difficult and unfair. Each student has an identification number as does the teacher.  If the student does poorly, these scores are linked to the teacher's and could be the impetus of the firing of many.  Before you agree with this keep in mind that there are many reasons a student may not do well on the test; test anxiety, lack of understanding the questions (as the teachers are not allowed to explain), poor nights sleep, no breakfast, death in the family, and the list goes on.  Special education students are required to take the test on grade level, yet by definition, they are not able to complete grade level work and again the teachers are not able to help, or read to the students.  For more information about the NJASK click on this link below. 


http://www.state.nj.us/education/assessment/es/njask_info_guide.pdf