The New Jersey Minimum Basic Skills Testing Program: From A to Z. Occasional Papers in Education.

All New Jersey students in grades 3, 6, 9, and 11 are tested annually in basic reading and computation skills using the New Jersey Minimum Basic Skills (MBS) Tests. The MBS testing program was initiated in 1976. The former Educational Assessment Program tests were used during the tramsition, and test development activities were begun in 1977. Objectives were developed through committees and a statewide survey; test items were developed by Educational Testing Service, and reviewed by the test development committees. Each of the tests was field tested in the early fall of 1977. The test development process is repeated each year. Cut-off scores were established to signify that a particular student is minimally proficient in mathematics and reading, taking into consideration the content of the test and the difficulty of the items. A variety of manuals are distributed, providing guidelines for administration and interpretation of the tests. This report also discusses the reporting formats available, students exempted from the testing program, interpretation of test results, and release of results to the public. (BW)