The New Jersey Department of Education portfolio appeals process will continue to support a fully electronic submission process, eliminating the exchange of paper portfolios between local educational agencies and the NJDOE. LEAs may now begin submitting portfolio appeals through the electronic submission process, according to an NJDOE advisory.

To fulfill the assessment component of the New Jersey high school graduation requirements, a student must demonstrate proficiency in both English language arts and mathematics. Any senior in the class of 2024, including students with disabilities and multilingual learners, may fulfill the graduation requirement via three pathways as explained in the Classes of 2023-2025 High School Graduation Assessment Requirements webpage.

The portfolio appeals process provides an opportunity for students in the class of 2024 to meet the graduation assessment requirement. The advisory explains the enhanced 2023-2024 portfolio appeals process, which is to be completed in accordance with N.J.S.A. 18A:7C-3 and N.J.A.C. 6A:8-5.1, for students scheduled to graduate in spring 2024 who have taken the New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment and have not yet met the state graduation assessment requirement for ELA and/or mathematics.

The advisory includes deadlines for the portfolio appeals process as well as details on the electronic submission process. It also includes details on resources available via NJDOE Homeroom to support LEAs in successfully completing and submitting the required documents.

LEA-Maintained Portfolio Appeals Documents

LEAs are expected to store students’ completed portfolio appeals materials onsite in accordance with local document retention policies. On-site review of these documents may occur at the discretion of the NJDOE. Below is a list of the materials that must be maintained locally for each student:

  • A completed Education Proficiency Plan that includes the most current student transcript, documentation of performance on New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment and/or substitute competency assessments, and an intervention plan implemented to ensure the student met the graduation assessment requirement.
  • Constructed response tasks in the content areas (ELA and/or mathematics) in which the student has not met the graduation assessment requirement.
  • The required quantity of a student’s graded responses to constructed response tasks in each content area.
  • A content-specific cover sheet found in the Informational guide for ELA and/or mathematics.

All documents related to the above materials can be found on the Graduation Assessment Requirement webpage under the section Graduation Portfolio Appeal.

Technical Assistance Opportunities

To support LEAs with the electronic submission process, technical assistance opportunities will be available to portfolio appeals coordinators on the following dates:

  • Wednesday, Jan. 10 – 1 to 2 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Jan. 17 – 10 to 11 a.m.
  • Wednesday, Feb. 14 – 1 to 2 p.m.
  • Wednesday, Feb. 21 – 10 to 11 a.m.
  • Wednesday, Feb. 28 – 1 to 2 p.m.
  • Wednesday, March 6 – 10 to 11 a.m.

Registration for the technical assistance sessions will occur through the Portfolio Appeals project in NJDOE Homeroom. Under the “Resources” section of the application, portfolio appeals coordinators will see registration links for each session.

The advisory also includes details on requirements for the constructed response tasks in ELA and mathematics, including a list of various resources.

Students in special populations, such as multilingual learners and students with disabilities, are expected to participate in the portfolio appeals process, as appropriate, and may receive accommodations. For additional information, review the Special Populations Guidance for Portfolio Appeals on the Graduation Assessment Requirement webpage under the section Graduation Portfolio Appeal.

Refer to the full advisory for complete information.

For any questions, please contact the NJDOE Office of Assessments via email or at 609-376-3960.