NJ post-COVID school test scores down, absences and troubles up
TRENTON – Statewide student test scores in math and English were below pre-pandemic levels, according to new data released by the state Department of Education Wednesday, which also revealed chronic absenteeism and incidents of violence, harassment and bullying were up.
The statistics were released as part of the annual New Jersey School Performance Report, which tabulates issues ranging from test scores and grades to violence in classrooms and graduation rates.
The data offered the first assessments of New Jersey public schools during the 2021-2022 school year, which for many was the first full year that did not include mandatory COVID-related restrictions or virtual learning.
The 2021-2022 school year marked the first in which the New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) tests were given since 2018-2019, a year before the pandemic occurred.
The new data found that only 36.1% of students met or exceeded expectations in NJSLA math, down from 44.8% in 2018-2019, the last year in which the tests were given. In English/Language Arts, that rate dropped from 58.2% to 49.3%.
“We don’t love hearing this but we need to hear it,” said Mary Beth Berry, a state school board member. “We really need to be doing more.”
Data also revealed that fewer New Jersey high school graduates are going on to higher education, dropping from 72.8% among the class of 2018 to 68.5% for the Class of 2022.
But while test scores and college participation were down, student troubles were on the rise with more students missing class and getting into trouble.
The chronic absenteeism rate, which tabulates students who miss 10 or more days of school each year, nearly doubled from 10.6% to 18.1% in the past three years.
At the same time, incidents of violence, harassment and bullying rose from 28,121 in 2018-2019 to 30,568 last year.
Suspensions, however dipped slightly from 37,964 to 37,791 during that same time period, with in-school suspensions dropping further, from 27,796 to 22,824.
Education Commissioner Angelica Allen-McMillan said correcting the problems will require help both in and out of the classroom.
“Schools are not the sole influencers of our students,” she said. “There are outside influences that many children have to contend with and the school environment is where we may see the results. Schools contend with being responsive in very unique and targeted ways.”
Board member Joseph Ricca agreed.
“Our schools are mirrors, not windows, and in so many ways the challenges that we see playing out in schools and school districts indicate there needs to be a collective effort,” he said. “And the data supports that our children need our intervention when they are struggling, when I say us, it means all of us.”
Joe Strupp is an award-winning journalist with 30 years’ experience who covers education and several local communities for APP.com and the Asbury Park Press. He is also the author of three books, including Killing Journalism on the state of the news media, and an adjunct media professor at Rutgers University and Fairleigh Dickinson University. Reach him at jstrupp@gannettnj.com and at 732-413-3840. Follow him on Twitter at @joestrupp
This article originally appeared on Asbury Park Press: NJ data shows test scores down, troubles up in 2021-2022 school year
