Why It Matters
New Jersey schools face a significant shift in how they receive student assessment data. The state’s modernized exam system will not deliver spring test results until December—four months later than the traditional August timeline—forcing educators to plan for the new school year without concrete performance data from the previous spring.
What Happened
New Jersey rolled out computerized statewide exams during the 2025-26 school year, with students in grades 3 through 9 and 11 sitting for tests between March and May. The new format uses adaptive technology: student responses trigger customized follow-up questions designed to more precisely measure achievement.
The delay in reporting stems from the state’s quality assurance process. Before releasing results, the Education Department must complete a standard-setting procedure—a technical process that involves determining cut scores (the performance thresholds that define proficiency levels) and drafting descriptions of each performance level. Additionally, spring writing prompts in English language arts require hand scoring, which adds time to the overall timeline.
Education Commissioner Lily Laux acknowledged the complexity of the validation work. “Our role as policymakers is not to serve as the technical experts but to make sure we understand the process, ensure that it’s rigorous and credible and evaluate the recommendations that emerge from it,” she said.
John Boczany, the state’s director of assessments, explained the reasoning for the extended timeline: the additional quality control procedures are “standard for the first year of a new assessment.”
To support the standard-setting process, the state recruited educators from rural, urban, and suburban districts to collaborate on establishing performance benchmarks. The state school board will review and formally adopt the new cut scores in the coming months.
By the Numbers
March through May — testing window for spring exams
December — anticipated release month for spring 2025-26 results
August — typical month when districts historically received exam results
June 30, 2027 — deadline for releasing spring 2026-27 exam results
Zoom Out
States across the country have experimented with computerized testing systems designed to improve assessment precision through adaptive questioning. The technology promises more nuanced measurement of student learning but often introduces logistical complexities, particularly in the first year of implementation. New Jersey’s decision to prioritize validation over speed reflects a deliberate trade-off many states make when introducing new assessment models—trading immediate data availability for greater confidence in the reliability of results.
The December timeline creates a practical challenge for school districts accustomed to using August data to adjust staffing, curriculum, and intervention strategies before September instruction begins. The state has indicated it will accelerate reporting for the 2026-27 school year, with results promised by June 30—suggesting the December delay is treated as a first-year adjustment rather than a permanent shift.
What’s Next
The state school board will review and adopt cut scores and performance level descriptions in the coming months, leading to the December release of spring 2026 results. For the 2026-27 school year, the state plans to compress the timeline, delivering results by June 30. Districts will need to adapt their planning calendars accordingly, potentially delaying curriculum and staffing decisions until later in the summer when data becomes available.