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8-8-16 Education in the News

NJ Spotlight--Court Challenge Likely for New HS Graduation Requirements Tied to PARCC Testing

New rules supposed to take effect in 2021 but critics, including ACLU, charge they violate state law

The Christie administration withstood months, if not years, of debate to finally see the State Board of Education yesterday approve new high school graduation requirements tied to the state’s PARCC testing.

Now, long before the requirements become fully effective, the next argument may be in a courtroom.

The State Board of Education took the final and expected vote yesterday that all graduates, starting in 2021, will need to pass the PARCC tests for Algebra I and 10th grade language arts to receive their diplomas.

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/16/08/03/court-challenge-likely-for-new-hs-graduation-requirements-tied-to-parcc-testing/

John Mooney | August 4, 2016

 

Star Ledger--Are kids taking too many tests? Feds launch $9M contest for new ideas

WASHINGTON — New Jersey and other states will be eligible for $9 million in federal funding to study how to improve or reduce the number of standardized tests students take each year, White House officials announced Friday.

The "Enhanced Assessment Grants" competition is the second step in the Obama administration's efforts to limit testing in public schools in response to parents and teachers who say standardized exams are taking up too much of the school year.

States will have until Sept. 22 to apply for money to help study how to improve, reduce or eliminate tests. The grants could be used to improve low-quality tests, upgrade scoring methods or eliminate redundant or unnecessary tests, federal officials said.

"We're excited to see what states will create," said U.S. Secretary of Education John B. King Jr.

New Jersey education officials said the state will consider entering the competition.

"As with any grant opportunity, we will be reviewing the grant to see if it is in the best interest of New Jersey's students," said David Saenz, a spokesman for the state education department.

New Jersey uses PARCC -- short for the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers -- exams to test students in grades 3 through 11.

http://www.nj.com/education/2016/08/obama_administration_calls_for_less_testing_in_sch.html#incart_river_index

Kelly Heyboer | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com|August 05, 2016 at 1:00 PM, updated August 05, 2016 at 2:38 PM

 

The Record--Christie touts public school funding proposal in Upper Saddle River

Governor Christie continued his public pitch for support of a controversial school-funding plan Friday, lobbying a small group of business leaders in Upper Saddle River to pressure Democrats to put the measure up for a vote.

Speaking for more than an hour at Triangle Manufacturing off Rt. 17, Christie warned that the window is closing on property tax relief in New Jersey, and his plan for flat funding for all public school students is the only substantive way to cut tax bills.

In Upper Saddle River, where the average property tax bill is $17,100, Christie said the formula would boost state aid to the town by 824 percent, allowing it to reduce average property taxes to about $13,500.

Sixty-nine of the 70 towns in Bergen County would see an increase in state aid, he said, showing “how out of whack things are” under the current education formula. Garfield would not see any increase in aid, according to the governor’s office.

“Bergen County is one of those counties where literally there are no losers in this formula,” Christie said.

Most lawmakers in both parties agree that the current school funding formula should be fixed. But Democrats, as well as the state’s largest public teachers union, vehemently oppose Christie’s plan to amend the Constitution and throw out the current weighted formula in favor of the state paying $6,599 for each public school student regardless of where they live. Critics say it is unfair and would negatively affect low-income areas while benefiting suburban districts, and Democrats have vowed to block the plan from posting a resolution that would put the ultimate decision to voters. 

http://www.northjersey.com/news/christie-touts-public-school-funding-proposal-in-upper-saddle-river-1.1640538

By DUSTIN RACIOPPI| STATE HOUSE BUREAU | The Record\ August 5, 2016