September 2021

New Jersey High School Graduation Assessment Requirements

This document provides clarifications and updates regarding the graduation assessment requirements for the class of 2022 and the classes of 2023-2025.

On June 5, 2019, the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) updated the high school graduation assessment requirements in both English language arts (ELA) and mathematics for the classes of 2019 through 2022, pursuant to an amended Consent Order issued by the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey.

The requirements in this document for the classes of 2023-2025 were adopted by the New Jersey State Board of Education on September 8, 2021.

Graduation Assessment Requirements by Year

• Class of 2022

• Classes of 2023–2025

	
Class of 2022

This section reflects the high school graduation assessment requirements for the class of 2022, which were updated on June 5, 2019 pursuant to an amended Consent Order issued by the Appellate Division of the Superior Court of New Jersey. The graduation assessment requirements for the class of 2022 are the same as they were for the classes of 2017–2019.

Graduation Assessment Requirements

In ELA, students must demonstrate proficiency:

1. On New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA)/PARCC ELA 10; or

2. By meeting the designated cut score on a substitute competency test such as other high school-level NJSLA/PARCC assessments, the SAT, ACT, or ACCUPLACER as defined in Table 2; or

3. By submitting, through the district, a student portfolio appeal to the New Jersey Department of Education.

In mathematics, students must demonstrate proficiency: 1. On NJSLA/PARCC Algebra I; or
2. By meeting the designated cut score on a substitute competency test such as other high school-level NJSLA/PARCC assessments, the SAT, ACT, or ACCUPLACER as defined in Table 2; or

3. By submitting, through the district, a student portfolio appeal to the New Jersey Department ofEducation.

Proficiency levels/cut scores for the class of 2022 are specified further below.

Information for Students with Disabilities

Under the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA), all students with disabilities must be included in all general state and district-wide assessments. The Individualized Education Programs (IEPs) of students with disabilities will address whether the student must meet the passing score on the state assessments or demonstrate proficiency through an alternate pathway. Students with disabilities whose IEPs specify an alternative way to demonstrate proficiencies, will continue to follow the graduation assessment requirements set forth in their IEPs. It is the responsibility of the student’s IEP team to ensure that the IEP is implemented as written, including components addressing state graduation assessment requirements.

IEP teams should reserve the exemption of the statewide assessment graduation requirement for students with significant intellectual disabilities and for students with disabilities who have made repeated unsuccessful attempts to meet statewide assessment requirements through the NJSLA, a substitute competency test, or a student portfolio appeal. Districts are encouraged to begin convening meetings of the student’s IEP team when the student is in grade 9, or as early as possible. The IEP team includes the student, and the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) to discuss the student’s specific graduation requirements.

Questions about IEP components concerning graduation assessment requirements should be directed to the Office of Special Education Policy and Dispute Resolution at oseinfo@doe.nj.gov.

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Class of 2022

Pathways Available

First Pathway

Demonstrate proficiency in the high school end-of-course NJSLA/PARCC assessments in ELA-10 and/or Algebra I.

Table 1: First Pathway—NJSLA/PARCC

ELA	Mathematics
	
NJSLA/PARCC ELA Grade 10 ≥ 750 (Level 4)
	NJSLA/PARCC Algebra I ≥ 750 (Level 4)

Second Pathway

Demonstrate proficiency in ELA and/or mathematics by meeting the designated cut score on one of the substitute competency tests.

Important Notes:

•	Tests marked with an asterisk (*) are no longer administered but can be used for the graduating year.

•	Beginning on Monday, January 28, 2019, classic ACCUPLACER tests were no longer available. QAS replaced ACCUPLACER Elementary Algebra.

Table 2: Designated Cut Scores for Second Pathway

ELA	Mathematics

One of the following:
•	NJSLA/PARCC ELA Grade 9 ≥ 750 (Level 4)

•	NJSLA/PARCC ELA Grade 11* ≥ 725 (Level 3)
•	SAT Critical Reading (taken before 3/1/16) ≥ 400
•	 SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section (taken 3/1/16 or later) ≥ 450
•	SAT Reading Test (taken 3/1/16 or later) ≥ 22 •	ACT Reading or ACT PLAN Reading* ≥ 16
•	ACCUPLACER WritePlacer ≥ 6
•	ACCUPLACER WritePlacer ESL ≥ 4
•	PSAT10 Reading or PSAT/NMSQT Reading (taken before 10/1/15) ≥ 40
•	 PSAT10 Reading or PSAT/NMSQT Reading (taken 10/1/15 or later) ≥ 22
•	ACT Aspire Reading* ≥ 422

•	ASVAB-AFQT Composite ≥ 31
	
One of the following:
•	NJSLA/PARCC Geometry ≥ 725 (Level 3) •	NJSLA/PARCC Algebra II ≥ 725 (Level 3) •	SAT Math (taken before 3/1/16) ≥ 400
•	SAT Math Section (taken 3/1/16 or later) ≥ 440 •	SAT Math Test (taken 3/1/16 or later) ≥ 22
•	ACT or ACT PLAN Math* ≥ 16

•	ACCUPLACER Elementary Algebra ≥ 76,
•	Next-Generation ACCUPLACER Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS) (beginning January 2019) ≥ 255

•	PSAT10 Math or PSAT/NMSQT Math (taken before 10/1/15) ≥ 40
•	PSAT10 Math or PSAT/NMSQT Math (taken 10/1/15 or later) ≥ 22
•	ACT Aspire Math* ≥ 422

•	ASVAB-AFQT Composite ≥ 31

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Class of 2022

Third Pathway

Demonstrate proficiency in ELA and/or mathematics through a portfolio appeal.

Table 3: Third Pathway—Portfolio Appeals

ELA	Mathematics

Meet the criteria of the NJDOE Portfolio Appeal for ELA
	
Meet the criteria of the NJDOE Portfolio Appeal for Mathematics

September 2021	Page 4 of 7

	
Classes of 2023–2025

The requirements in this section were adopted by the New Jersey State Board of Education on September 8, 2021 for the classes of 2023-2025.

Graduation Assessment Requirements

ELA

If, after completing the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in grade 11, students did not demonstrate proficiency by passing the ELA component, such students may access the following pathways:

•	 Pathway 2: By meeting the designated cut score on a substitute competency test (see Table 5 under Pathway 2 below); or

•	 Pathway 3: By submitting, through the district, a student portfolio appeal to the New Jersey Department of Education.

Mathematics

If, after completing the required New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in grade 11, students did not demonstrate proficiency by passing the mathematics component, such students may access the following pathways:

•	Second Pathway: By meeting the designated cut score on a substitute competency test (see Table 5 under Second Pathway below); or

•	 Third Pathway: By submitting, through the district, a student portfolio appeal to the New Jersey Department of Education.

Information for Students with Disabilities

Under the Individuals with Disability Education Act (IDEA), all students with disabilities must be included in all general state and district-wide assessments. IEPs of students with disabilities will address whether the student must meet the passing score on the state assessments or demonstrate proficiency through an alternate pathway. Students with disabilities whose IEPs specify an alternative way to demonstrate proficiencies, will continue to follow the graduation assessment requirements set forth in their IEPs. It is the responsibility of the student’s IEP team to ensure that the IEP is implemented as written, including components addressing state graduation assessment requirements.

IEP teams should reserve the exemption of the statewide assessment graduation requirement for students with significant intellectual disabilities and for students with disabilities who have made repeated unsuccessful attempts to meet statewide assessment requirements through New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment, a substitute competency test, or a student portfolio appeal. Districts are encouraged to begin convening meetings of the student’s IEP team when the student is in grade 9, or as early as possible. The IEP team includes the student, and the student’s parent(s)/guardian(s) to discuss the student’s specific graduation requirements.

Questions about IEP components concerning graduation assessment requirements should be directed to the

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Classes of 2023–2025

Office of Special Education Policy and Dispute Resolution at oseinfo@doe.nj.gov.

Pathways Available

First Pathway

Students must take and demonstrate proficiency in grade 11 on the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment, which includes content aligned to the grade 10 New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) in ELA, and the NJSLS in Algebra 1 and Geometry. If after completing the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment a student does not demonstrate proficiency on the ELA or mathematics section, the student may retake the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in the following summer or fall.

A student with disabilities whose IEP states that they are not eligible for the alternate assessment (Dynamic Learning Maps) must take the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in grade 11.

Table 4: First Pathway — New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment

ELA	Mathematics
	
New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment-ELA
	New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment-Mathematics

Second Pathway

Note: This pathway is only available to students who completed the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in grade 11.

Students who sat for the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in grade 11 and did not demonstrate proficiency are able to demonstrate proficiency in ELA and/or mathematics by meeting the designated cut score on one of the assessments on the menu of substitute competency tests in Table 5 on the next page.

Important Notes:

•	Tests marked with an asterisk (*) are no longer administered but can be used for the graduating year.

•	Beginning on Monday, January 28, 2019, classic ACCUPLACER tests were no longer available. QAS replaced ACCUPLACER Elementary Algebra.

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Classes of 2023–2025

Table 5: Second Pathway – Menu of Substitute Competency Tests

ELA
	Mathematics

One of the following:

•	NJSLA/PARCC ELA Grade 9
•	SAT Critical Reading (taken before 3/1/16)
•	 SAT Evidence-Based Reading and Writing Section (taken 3/1/16 or later)

•	SAT Reading Test (taken 3/1/16 or later) •	ACT Reading or ACT PLAN Reading*
•	ACCUPLACER WritePlacer
•	ACCUPLACER WritePlacer ESL
•	PSAT10 Reading or PSAT/NMSQT Reading (taken before 10/1/15)
•	PSAT10 Reading or PSAT/NMSQT Reading (taken 10/1/15 or later)
•	ACT Aspire Reading*
•	ASVAB-AFQT Composite
	
One of the following:

•     NJSLA/PARCC Algebra 1 •     NJSLA/PARCC Geometry •     NJSLA/PARCC Algebra II
•	SAT Math (taken before 3/1/16)
•	SAT Math Section (taken 3/1/16 or later) •	SAT Math Test (taken 3/1/16 or later)
•	ACT or ACT PLAN Math
•	ACCUPLACER Elementary Algebra
•	Next-Generation ACCUPLACER Quantitative Reasoning, Algebra, and Statistics (QAS) (beginning January 2019)

•	PSAT10 Math or PSAT/NMSQT Math (taken before 10/1/15)
•	PSAT10 Math or PSAT/NMSQT Math (taken 10/1/15 or later)

•	ACT Aspire Math*

•	ASVAB-AFQT Composite

Third Pathway

Note: This pathway is only available to students who completed the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in grade 11.

Students who completed the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment in grade 11 and did not demonstrate proficiency are able to demonstrate proficiency in ELA and/or mathematics through a portfolio appeal in grade 12.

Table 6: Third Pathway —Portfolio Appeals

ELA	Mathematics

Meet the criteria of the NJDOE Portfolio Appeal for ELA
	
Meet the criteria of the NJDOE Portfolio Appeal for Math

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