Dear Parent/Guardian:

The New Jersey Department of Education has recently made changes to the high school graduation requirements.

In addition to credit and specific course requirements all students receiving a high school diploma in New Jersey have also been required to successfully pass both the Language Arts Literacy and Mathematics section of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA).

In previous years, students who had not passed both sections of the HSPA were eligible for a “Student Review Assessment” (SRA). These alternative assessments were administered and scored at Monmouth Regional High School (MRHS) throughout the student’s senior year. Once a student had successfully completed the SRA process, MRHS “certified to the State” that the student was proficient and a diploma was issued in June.

In the 2009-2010 school year, the State has discontinued the SRA process and has replaced this process with the “Alternative High School Assessment” (AHSA). The major differences between the two programs are as follows: • The testing window has been compressed so that students will have a three week window of testing in January and a three week window in April. • Student responses will no longer be scored “in house” but will now be forwarded to the State for scoring. • Schools will be notified if a student has passed the AHSA sometime in May of the same school year. If a student has not passed both sections of the HSPA and fails to successfully pass the AHSA they will not be eligible to receive their high school diploma.

Students who have met all other graduation requirements will be allowed to retake the HSPA in October. If at that time they successfully pass the section(s) they have failed then the diploma will be issued. Students who fail the HSPA, and the AHSA and do not meet the other graduation requirements of the State and/or MRHS will have the following option: • Return for an additional year at MRHS, • Attend summer school to make up any deficiencies. The student will still be required to take the HSPA the following October.

Should you have any questions about the new process or specific questions about your child’s progress towards graduation please do not hesitate to contact the Guidance Office and your child’s counselor. Thank you.

Andrew F. Teeple Principal

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