·         Test Format: Because they were specifically designed to serve as “off-grade” assessments in New Jersey, NJ PASS is modeled on our existing New Jersey Assessment of Skills and Knowledge (NJ ASK) and Grade Eight Proficiency Assessment (GEPA) programs.  Therefore, the format of the interim assessments will be very similar to those, combining multiple choice items and constructed response items, all aligned to the CCCS.  There will be one open-ended writing task at each grade level.  Please note that these interim assessments will consist of items from Riverside Publishing’s secure pool of items field-tested in New Jersey but not previously used on any commercial form of NJ PASS.  Thus, these will be newly constructed assessments.

·         Training:  As with our current testing programs, the department will offer training sessions for district and school test coordinators on all aspects of administering the interim grades 5-7 assessments.  Most of these procedures will be familiar to district personnel who have experience with our other assessments. In any case, these training sessions will be designed to ensure that district personnel are fully informed about the necessary procedures for implementing these assessments.

• Score Reporting: As with our current test programs, the department expects to release score reports, including scale scores and proficiency levels, by mid-June 2006.  Individual student score reports and student labels will be printed and shipped to districts. All school and district summary reports, as well as student data files, will be made available electronically, through a secure, password-protected, web-based platform hosted by our vendor.  This will represent a significant advance in the state’s effort to improve the promptness and accessibility of assessment score reporting.