The test was originally called the Elementary School Proficiency Assessment (ESPA), which was administered at grade 4 from 1997 through 2002 to provide an early indication of student progress toward achieving the knowledge and skills identified in the New Jersey Core Curriculum Content Standards (CCCS).
In spring 2003, the state education department replaced the ESPA with the NJASK, which is a comprehensive, multi-grade assessment program.
Beginning in the 2014–2015 school year, the NJASK assessments and the HSPA were phased out in favor of the new PARCC exam, which is administered to students in grades 3–11.
It is often known as the "preparation test" for the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA), which has similar rules and information.
PARCC started in Ohio, New York, Colorado, Illinois, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, and Rhode Island during the 2014-2015 schoolyear.