GEPA Mathematics Parents Workshop

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GEPA - Mathematics Parents Workshop

• by
• NJPEP

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NJPEP Website
Assessment
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NJPEPs Assessment Page
GEPA support
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GEPA - Overview

• The GEPA serves the assessment needs of the New
  Jerseys public schools.
• The federal law requires states to use tests as a
  way of determining the performance levels of the
  schools.
• The tests are designed to assess how well
  students are learning the knowledge and skills
  called for by the states standards.

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GEPA - Overview

• The GEPA is designed to give your school
  information about how well students are achieving
  in the areas required by the States Core
  Curriculum Content Standards (CCCS).
• The CCCS determine what students should know and
  be able to do at a certain grade level.
• The CCCS were revised in 2002-2004 and were
  developed by teachers and other education
  professionals from New Jersey.

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Language Arts

• The operational part of the test is 2 writing
  tasks and 2 reading passages each with 10 MC and
  2 OE. 
• However, the number of items may vary depending
  on the field test section a student receives. 
• The length of the test may be around 2 hrs/day
  (depending on the of field test items)

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Language Arts Literacy

• Reading section
• Read selected passages
• Respond to related multiple-choice and open-ended
  questions.
• Measures achievement in interpreting, analyzing,
  and critiquing text.
• Writing section
• Two extended responses
• Picture prompt
• Persuasive prompt.

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Mathematics

• The GEPA assesses 4 Core Curriculum Content
  Standards in mathematics
• 4.1 Number and Numerical Operations
• 4.2 Geometry and Measurement
• 4.3 Patterns and Algebra
• 4.4 Data Analysis, Probability, and Discrete
  Mathematics

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Math Assessment

• The GEPA has two major types of questions.
• Multiple choice (MC) students are asked to
  choose one correct answer from among four
  choices.
• MC questions add much to the reliability and
  consistency of the test because many good
  questions that focus on a broad range of skills
  can be answered in a short span of time.

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Math Assessment

• The Multiple-Choice (MC) items on NJ ASK are
  designed
• to assess higher-level cognitive processes.
• take an average of between one and two minutes to
  answer each MC question.
• to be objective and do not require scoring by
  trained professionals.

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Math Assessment

• The second type of question is the open-ended
  (OE) question.
• Students will answer these questions with short
  or long written responses.
• Students may also present their response using
  diagrams, graphics, and/or pictures.
• Responses are hand scored holistically on a scale
  from 0 to 3 using the open-ended rubric.

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Math Assessment

• GEPA contains a total of 48 items
• 40 multiple choice items (includes Field Test
  FT items)
• 8 open-ended items (includes FT items)
• Each multiple choice item is worth 1 point.
• Each open-ended item is worth 3 points.
• Total points possible 48 points

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Math Assessment

• 25 (12) of the points assess Number and
  Numerical Operations
• 25 (12) of the points assess Geometry and
  Measurement
• 25 (12) of the points assess Patterns and
  Algebra
• 25 (12) of the points assess Data Analysis,
  Probability, and Discrete Mathematics

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Math Assessment

• The questions on the GEPA may contain
  items/concepts learned prior (in other grade
  levels)
• The GEPA is not a diagnostic test but a test to
  measure how well the students achieved the NJ
  CCCS.

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GEPA Math Example

• At Johnnys Burger place, a combo meal consists
  of a burger, a side dish, and a drink. Johnnys
  menu is listed in the chart.
• How many combo meals are possible at Johnnys
  Burger place? Show your work or explain your
  answer.
• Describe a way of how Johnny can change his menu
  so that his customers can have 30 different combo
  meals to choose from? Show your work to support
  your answer.

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Parent Support NJDOE

• GEPA Helpful Hints at http//www.njpep.org/assessm
  ent/gepa_hints/index.html
• Middle School Tests in New Jersey and Other
  States http//www.njpep.org/assessment/gepa_hints/
  Components/StateTests.html

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Parent Resources

• U. S. Education Department Parents Resources
• http//www.ed.gov/parents/landing.jhtml?srcfp
• NJPEP
• Assessment http//www.njpep.org/assessment/index.
  html
• Parents/Students http//www.njpep.org/parents_stu
  dents/index.html
• N. J. Department of Education Parents Circle
• http//www.state.nj.us/njded/parents/

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• CONTACT INFORMATION
• GEPA Coordinator Stacy Shack
• Office 609-777-3672
• Email stacy.shack_at_doe.state.nj.us
• Mathematics Coordinator Tim Giordano
• Office 609-633-8015
• Email timothy.giordano_at_doe.state.nj.us
• Director of Evaluation Assessment
• Brian Robinson
• Office 609-984-6311
• Email brian.robinson_at_doe.state.nj.us

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NJPEP CONTACTS

• Office phone [phone]
• Manager Dr. Lavinia Kumar
• Regional Professional Development Specialists
  South - Dorothy Atkins Central - Patricia A.
  Green North - Maria Mendez