Following today’s hearing of the Joint Committee on the Public Schools to discuss statewide standardized assessments as a requirement for high school graduation, Assemblywoman Mila Jasey (D-Essex, Morris), co-chair of the Joint Committee as well as the Assembly Higher Education Committee, released the following statement:
“As a legislator and former Board of Education member, I have many concerns about the use of standardized tests as a graduation requirement in our State. Education should be about the joy and wonder of learning. I’m afraid we have put too much focus on testing instead of educational and personal development, which has particularly harmed our underserved and disabled students.
“It’s clear that we need to do more to examine the practicality, fairness and efficacy of standardized tests. If that testing comes at the cost of valuable classroom time and increased stress for students, parents and teachers, then we need reevaluate the manner in which we measure student success.
“We can, and must, do a better job for our students. I want to see children excited about school, and constantly encouraged to think, collaborate and express themselves. If high stakes exit testing does not get us closer to that vision, it’s time for us to consider alternatives.”