1. Healthcare

STAFFORD TOWNSHIP SCHOOL DISTRICT
George J. Chidiac
Superintendent
Administrative Offices
250 N. Main Street
Manahawkin, NJ 08050
Voice: 609.978.5700
Ext. 1001
Fax: 609.597.4430
www.staffordschools.org
“BUILDING A BETTER WORLD ONE STUDENT AT A TIME”
January 30, 2015
Please be aware that students in Grades 3-6 will be completing the PARCC Assessment this
year, beginning with the Performance Based Assessment, currently scheduled for March 2-27,
as well as the End of Year Assessment, currently scheduled for April 27-May 27.
Many parents have asked about the ability to “opt out” of the PARCC assessment. There is NO
“opt out” policy for either portion of the PARCC assessment. Below is information from the New
Jersey Department of Education addressing a parent’s ability to “opt out” of PARCC testing:
“State law and regulations require all students to take State assessments. For the 20142015 school year, the PARCC assessment will replace the prior statewide assessments the NJASK in grades 3-8 and HSPA in high school; as such, all students shall take the
PARCC assessment as scheduled. Since the PARCC assessment is part of the State
required educational program, schools are not required to provide an alternative
educational program for students who do not participate in the statewide assessment.”
To read the NJ Department of Education letter in its entirety, please click on the following link:
http://assets.njspotlight.com/assets/14/1102/2042
The New Jersey Department of Education recently announced information regarding New
Jersey High School Graduation requirements for the classes of 2016, 2017, and 2018. The
State will no longer be using the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) that was
administered in the junior year to determine proficiency in English Language Arts and
Mathematics. In order to graduate, students will now be required to demonstrate proficiency in
English Language Arts and Mathematics in at least one of the following ways:
English Language Arts
Passing score on a PARCC ELA Grade 9
or
Passing score on a PARCC ELA Grade 10
Passing score on a PARCC ELA Grade 11
SAT >=
ACT >= 16
Accuplacer Write Placer >= 6 or
PSAT >= 40 or
ACT Aspire >= 422 or
ASVAB-AFQT >= 31 or
Meet the Criteria of the NJDOE Portfolio
Mathematics
Passing score on PARCC Algebra I or
Passing score on PARCC Geometry or
Passing score on PARCC Algebra II or
SAT >=
ACT >= 16
Accuplacer Elementary Algebra >= 76
PSAT >=
ACT Aspire >= 422 or
ASVAB-AFQT >= 31 or
Meet the Criteria of the NJDOE Portfolio
Below is the schedule for the Performance Based Assessment:
● Students in grades 5-6 will be tested during the week of March 2-6
● Students in grades 3-4 will be tested during the week of March 9-12
● Makeup testing for all students in grades 3-6 will occur throughout the testing window,
during the weeks of March 2-27
Below is the tentative schedule for the End of Year Assessment:
● Students in grades 5-6 will be tested during the week of April 27-May 1
● Students in grades 3-4 will be tested during the week of May 4-8
● Makeup testing for all students in grades 3-6 will occur throughout the testing window
during the weeks of April 27-May 22
It is important that we establish clear procedures for the PARCC Assessment testing sessions:
1. Students in attendance during regular assessment days will complete each section of
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
the Performance Based Assessment and End of Year Assessment.
Students who are absent during the regular assessment days will complete each section
of the Performance Based Assessment and End of Year assessment upon their return to
school during the makeup testing sessions.
All students will be testing in one of three testing centers with their homeroom class, in
addition to several other homeroom classes. In the event that a student refuses or a
parent refuses to have their child take the test, he or she will be provided with an
alternate educational activity which will consist of, but limited to, self-selected reading
material in an alternate location.
If parents/guardians refuse to have their child take the test, written notification should be
submitted to the principal at least one week in advance of the test.
Student absences during the March 2-27 and April 27-May 22 testing windows will be
addressed in accordance to the District Attendance policy.
Certain sessions of the test will require the use of headphones or ear buds. Please
know that we will provide these to students or they may bring in their own. As we get
closer to the test, updated and specific information will be provided to you.
Sincerely,
George J. Chidiac
Superintendent of Schools