By Matt Rooney | The Save Jersey Blog
Your little Save Jerseyans might get to spend more time learning instead of test-taking next year.
Assembly Republican BettyLou DeCroce’s A-3079 was approved by the Assembly Education Committee on Thursday; if it becomes law, the legislation would exempt Kindergarten to 2nd Grade students from most standardized testing.
“The early grades are crucial for forming the foundation of future education,” said DeCroce a Republican representing portions of Morris, Essex and Passaic counties. “Children should spend class time learning the basics of math, reading and social skills. I think it is important to allow kids to be kids and not data collection tools.”
It’s not directly related, but DeCroce’s measure comes at a time when standardized tests nationwide are experiencing new scrutiny and Gov. Chris Christie appears to be walking back his formerly vocal support of Common Core curriculum standards and PARCC testing.
New Jerseyans wouldn’t complain if the state did opt out according to the results of a new Monmouth University poll. “The more people have heard about the Common Core and the PARCC the less they like it. Most New Jerseyans, though, have not been paying close attention yet or are taking a neutral position,” observed Patrick Murray, director of the independent Monmouth University Polling Institute in West Long Branch, N.J.” We’ll see which way opinion goes as the tests are administered in the coming months.”
You bet it does, but this fight has only just started. 14,000 petitions were delivered, 9000 more than Jackson last week. Growing fast!
DeCroce is 6th Prime Sponsor….it’s Mila Jasey’s bill.
The tests are a means to keep bureaucrats busy. We would be better off if the bureaucrats at the U.S. Department of Education played Sodoku or videogames all day. These tests are a giant waste of educational resources.