District Assessment Information

NJSLA

The New Jersey Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA) are statewide assessments that assess students’ progress toward the New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS) in English Language Arts (ELA), Mathematics, and Science.  Administered during a statewide spring testing window, students in Grades 3–8 are assessed in ELA and Mathematics, while students in Grades 5 and 8 are also assessed in Science.

On August 13, 2025, the New Jersey Department of Education, in partnership with Cambium Assessment, Inc. (CAI), announced the launch of the NJSLA-Adaptive. This updated version of the assessment is aligned to the NJSLS for ELA and Mathematics and is designed to provide a more responsive and meaningful testing experience while maintaining strong alignment to state standards.

For additional information about the NJSLA-Adaptive, as well as resources and frequently asked questions (updated March 9, 2026), families and educators are encouraged to visit the New Jersey Assessments Portal and the New Jersey Department of Education website.

 

BENCHMARK ASSESSMENTS

In addition to the NJ Student Learning Assessments (NJSLA) that all public schools are required to give in grades 3-8, HPS also measures student improvement using these methods:  LinkIt Benchmarks, IXL Diagnostic and HMH Growth Measure Reading. These are not used for grading purposes, but rather to help teachers plan instruction that meets each student's particular needs throughout the year. Grade 2 also completes the Benchmark assessment at the end of the school year as data for teachers in the next school year.

LinkIt!
LinkIt! Benchmark Assessments are administered three times throughout the school year to students in the areas of English Language Arts and Mathematics as a way of gauging students’ progress on select New Jersey Student Learning Standards. Students in Grades 3-8 take the 45 min-minute LinkIt! Benchmark Assessments on a computer.

These assessments provide immediate feedback and up-to-date student progress on reaching end-of-year expectations on select New Jersey Student Learning Standards (NJSLS).  These assessments are utilized as one of multiple measures to determine individual student growth and to inform teaching and learning.

IXL Diagnostic Assessment

IXL Diagnostic snapshots are taken two times per school year for English Language Arts and Mathematics. These snapshots pinpoint students' grade-level proficiency in key Mathematics and English Language Arts strands. Once each individual student’s IXL Diagnostic score is obtained, IXL creates a personalized action plan for them. This plan outlines recommended skills to practice. With these recommended skills, you have a simple way to close learning gaps and facilitate meaningful progress. 

 

HMH Growth Measure Reading

HMH Growth Measure Reading assessments are administered two times per school year for English Language Arts to better understand students’ starting points as well as their growth throughout the year. Grades 2-8 complete the Growth Measure Reading Assessment, which is an adaptive reading comprehension and language arts test. Comprehensive reporting provides teachers with students’ Lexile reading levels and other data to guide decisions for individual, small-group, and whole-group instruction.

 

Amplify mCLASS with DIBELS 

Amplify mCLASS with DIBELS is a universal screener made up of a set of short, standardized assessments designed to measure foundational reading skills (such as: letter sounds, alphabetic principle, word reading, oral reading fluency, and comprehension) in students from Kindergarten through Grade 2.  It helps educators identify students who may be at risk for reading difficulties, monitor student progress, and inform instructional decisions.  

 

ACCESS for ELLs - WIDA

ACCESS for ELLs is a series of English language proficiency tests for students starting in Kindergarten who are identified as English learners (ELLs). The tests are given annually in member states of the WIDA Consortium to monitor the progress of ELL students in acquiring academic English. 

 

The tests assess students' proficiency in four language domains: listening, speaking, reading, and writing. The tests are based on the WIDA English Language Development (ELD) Standards. 

The results of the tests are used for a variety of purposes, including: Monitoring student progress, Deciding whether students can be reclassified from language instruction programs, and Accountability.