PARCC Refuseniks :Issue of refusal to take tests draws a crowd
FEBRUARY 13, 2015 LAST UPDATED: FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 13, 2015, 1:21 AM
BY HANNAN ADELY
STAFF WRITER |
THE RECORD
The state Assembly Education Committee drew a crowd to Trenton on Thursday with a bill that would give parents the right to refuse new state tests for their children.
The tests are about two weeks away, and the bill was up for discussion only and not for a vote, but it landed at a time of heightened anxiety and debate about the exams called PARCC.
The controversial tests, which will be given in math and language arts in Grades 3-11, won’t count for graduation, grade promotion or class placement, but a growing number of parents say they are refusing to allow their kids to take the tests.
Parents and teachers argued at the hearing that the tests are too hard and draw resources from the classroom and that they shouldn’t be used to measure teacher performance. But supporters said the tests better prepare students for college and build critical thinking skills.
“Parents should not have to worry that their children will face negative consequences … if they refuse the test,” said Marie Blistan, vice president of the New Jersey Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union. “The NJEA believes that parents have the right to act in the best interests of their children.”
Pave the way for children to avoid taking these tests and NJ parents will take advantage of the opportunity. And rightly so.