Bill Package to Give Parents Choice to Opt Out of PARCC

TRENTON — An Assembly panel on Thurs. released a two-bill package sponsored by Assemblyman Bob Andrzejczak to tackle the growing concern over the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessment being administered to New Jersey students in grades 3-11.
The first bill (A-4165) would allow a parent or guardian to exclude a student from taking the PARCC. The second bill (A-4268) would establish a task force to study the effectiveness and implementation of the PARCC.
“No parent wants their child to take a test that is flawed, especially when it will be used for advanced placement and graduation,” said Andrzejczak (D-Cape May/Atlantic/Cumberland). “Parents are the best advocates for their children. Until we can answer some of those persisting questions about what PARCC will and will not do, parents should be able to have their children abstain from the test.”
Under the opt-out bill (A-4165), a student’s parent or guardian would have 14 days before the test is given to notify the school district or charter school, in writing, that the student will not be taking the test. Schools must alert parents of upcoming PARCC assessments by no later than Sept. 30.
Under the bill, a school district or charter school would be required to provide educationally appropriate alternative activities for students not taking the test. Any such alternative activity cannot occur in the same room where the test is being administered. Nothing in the bill is to be construed to exempt a student from any high school graduation requirement established under current law.
The study conducted by the task force (A-4268) must include a description of actions taken by the state to date to support the administration of the PARCC tests, and a timeline for future actions to be taken; an estimate of the full cost for school districts to administer the PARCC tests; an analysis of districts’ technological readiness to administer the tests; the use of students’ results on the tests; and matters related to the use and mining of confidential student and family data. The task force would have to issue its final report no later six months after it organizes. Prior to issuing its final report, the task force would be required to conduct at least four public hearings to gather information.
In addition to notifying parents about upcoming test dates, school districts and charter schools would be required under the opt-out bill (A-4165) to inform parents about the subject area of the test and the grade levels covered by the test, and the manner in which the test results will be used.
The bills were released by the Assembly Education Committee.