Creating NJSLA-Like Assessments for Mathematics

This workshop is designed to help educators develop assessments aligned with the New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA) for grades 3 through 5 mathematics. Participants examine the purpose and principles of effective assessment, analyze the NJSLA item types (Types I, II, and III), and learn how to create valid and reliable assessment items aligned to state standards. The training guides teachers in constructing blueprints and full-length tests that reflect the rigor and expectations of the NJSLA, using both content and practice standards.

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• Lack of alignment between classroom assessments and the NJSLA format and expectations
  
  
• Inconsistent assessment design that lacks validity, reliability, or alignment with standards
  
  
• Limited teacher capacity in writing items that measure conceptual understanding, procedural skills, and real-world application
  

1. Assessment Design and Alignment: Teachers will learn to construct NJSLA-like items that are aligned to both content and practice standards, ensuring consistency in measuring student understanding across all three levels—conceptual, procedural, and application.
   
   
2. Item Type Mastery: Participants will develop the skills to analyze and create all three NJSLA task types: Type I (skills and procedures), Type II (reasoning and justification), and Type III (modeling and application in real-world contexts).
   
   
3. Blueprint Development and Instructional Integration: Educators will gain strategies to design full assessments and blueprints that integrate seamlessly into their curriculum, enabling data-informed instructional planning and intervention based on assessment outcomes