Relevant Policy Makers
President Obama
President Obama supports Common Core and PARCC testing, calling it a "broad strategy to bolster economic mobility and combat poverty--calling on lawmakers to approve previously unveiled proposals to extend preschool to more 4-year-olds, beef up job-training programs, and make post-secondary education more effective and accessible". |
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie
The policy makers in the positions affect the implementation and reception of PARCC testing most are state governors. For 18 months he adamantly defended Common Core across the nation. Recently, however, his opinion has begun to change: on February 9, 2015 he said, “I have grave concerns about the way [PARCC testing] has been done, and especially the way the Obama administration has tried to implement it through tying federal funding to these things. And that changes the entire nature of it, from what was initially supposed to be a voluntary type system and states could decide on their own to now having federal money tied to it in ways that really, really give me grave concerns. So we’re in the midst of a re-examination of it in New Jersey...We’re going to take some action. It is something I’ve been very concerned about, because in the end education needs to be a local issue”. It is necessary to continue to sway Governor Christie towards the opposition of PARCC testing as his responsibilities include overseeing the NJ executive branch, developing the state budget, encouraging support or dissent from the public concerning legislative proposals, and vetoing legislation. |
New Jersey Board of Education
The BOE creates regulations in order to implement education laws. They also make sure that the rules are backed by state law. Making our opinion known to the state board and informing them of our potential solutions may influence the future policy and rules that they set up.
The BOE creates regulations in order to implement education laws. They also make sure that the rules are backed by state law. Making our opinion known to the state board and informing them of our potential solutions may influence the future policy and rules that they set up.
Commissioner of Education David Hespe
Because governors have such influence in this issue, it follows that the state Commissioner of Education, David Hespe, also influences decisions as a member of the Governor’s cabinet. He supervises all public schools in the state and recommends changes to legislation, produces research having to do with education, and is the liaison between schools and the federal government. He helps resolve legal disputes under school or state law and conducts statewide tests. He is also the chairman of the New Jersey State Board of Examiners. |
New Jersey Senate and Assembly Education Committees
The NJ Senate and Assembly Education Committee members propose, debate and vote on education bills. They are directly responsible for the introduction and passing of a bill. New Jersey is split into 40 Districts, each with one Senator and two Assemblymen.
The NJ Senate and Assembly Education Committee members propose, debate and vote on education bills. They are directly responsible for the introduction and passing of a bill. New Jersey is split into 40 Districts, each with one Senator and two Assemblymen.
New Jersey Senator Thomas H. Kean, Jr. (R)
Thomas H. Kean, Jr. is the NJ Senator of District 21. He is currently the Republican Leader and is on the committees: Commerce, Higher Education; Legislative Oversight; Legislative Services Commission - Vice Chair. 425 North Ave. East, Suite C, Westfield, NJ 07090 Phone: (908) 232-3673 Fax: (908) 232-3345 57 Union Place, Suite 310, Summit, NJ 07901 Phone: (908) 918-0414 251 North Ave. West, 2nd Floor, Westfield, NJ 07090 Phone: (908) 232-2073 |
New Jersey Assemblywoman Nancy F. Munoz (R)
Nancy F. Munoz is currently part of the General Assembly and the Deputy Republican Leader. She is on the Commerce and Economic Development Committee, the Health and Senior Services Committee, and the Women and Children Committee. 57 Union Place, Suite 310, Summit, NJ 07901 Phone: (908) 918-0414 425 North Ave. East, Suite C, Westfield, NJ 07090 251 North Ave. West, 2nd Floor, Westfield, NJ 07090 |
Recent Legislation in the New Jersey Senate and Assembly
A4190 / S2768 Puts a three-year moratorium on using the results of PARCC tests to consider student placement and teacher evaluation.Assembly Yes {63} No {7} Not Voting {7} Abstains {3} Munoz, Nancy F. - No Bramnick, Jon M. - No Senate Not considered by Senate Committee. ______________________________________________________________________ A4165 / S2767 Allows students to refuse to take the PARCC exams and requires schools to provide an ungraded alternative activity or attend class. This bill addresses how to treat those who refuse to take the test and prevents students from having to sit and stare at the wall. Assembly Yes {72} No {0} Not Voting {8} Abstains {0} Munoz, Nancy F. - Yes Bramnick, Jon M. - Yes Senate Will not be considered by Senate Committee. ______________________________________________________________________ A3079 / S2766 Prohibits standardized tests for students in kindergarten through second grade (does not include tests for gifted/talented programs). 2nd Reading in the Senate Assembly Yes {76} No {0} Not Voting {4} Abstains {0} Munoz, Nancy F. - Yes Bramnick, Jon M. - Yes Senate Passed Senate Committee, not voted on by full Senate. ______________________________________________________________________ SR129 A resolution introduced by Ruiz instead of supporting A4165. Calls on Hespe to develop guidelines on policies concerning refusal to take the PARCC exam and the alternative activities. 2nd Reading in the Senate Assembly Not considered by Assembly Committee. Senate Passed Senate Committee, not voted on by full Senate. |
A4485 / S2881
"Prohibits withholding of State school aid based on student participation rate on State assessments" 2nd Reading in the Senate Assembly Not voted on by Assembly Committee. Senate Passed Senate Committee, not voted on by full Senate. ______________________________________________________________________ S2844 Requires school districts to provide information on their websites about student participation in PARCC exams within 10 days of the assessment. 2nd Reading in the Senate Assembly Not considered by Assembly Committee. Senate Passed Senate Committee, not voted on by full Senate. ______________________________________________________________________ S2923 Requires school district to notify parents by October 1 of any standardized tests and inform them on them thoroughly, including the subjects tested, grade levels tested, testing dates, and time allotted during the test. *Does not include requiring schools to inform parents on the cost of the exams or what the results may be used for. These stipulations were part of a similar bill passed by the State Assembly. 2nd Reading in the Senate Assembly Not considered by Assembly Committee. Senate Passed Senate Committee, not voted on by full Senate. ______________________________________________________________________ S2922 Requires the Department of Education to link a list of all third parties employed for work having do with state exams on its website. 2nd Reading in the Senate Assembly Not considered by Assembly Committee. Senate Passed Senate Committee, not voted on by full Senate. ______________________________________________________________________ A4354 / S2921 Requires employees of private entities with access to PARCC exam scores to undergo criminal background checks. Assembly Not voted on by Committee. Senate Not voted on by Senate. |
Level of Support
Among the New Jersey Board of Education and local officials, support for our solution of ending PARCC testing is strong. All of the votes carried out by the full Assembly have substantially on the side of opponents of PARCC testing. Many bills are moving through committees which limit the effects of PARCC testing and help fix its flaws. The local school district has held meetings with members of the Board of Education and others concerning alternatives to PARCC testing. In addition, Governor Christie has recently publicized his desire to find an alternative to PARCC due to the ineffective methods of implementation and the overreach of federal government. It is essential to continue that change in opinion and support it until there is change in legislation. Senator Thomas H. Kean, Jr., especially, needs to be influenced because of the many bills passing through the Senate and votes coming up. |
Influencing public officials
Multiple steps can be taken to inform public officials of your opinion, including writing a letter, calling, signing a petition, visiting your public official, attending Board of Education Meetings. The Ridge PTO has already set up a method to send a letter to multiple public officials (see What You Can Do). The most important action to be taken at the moment is letting public officials know of the opposition to PARCC testing and the reasons for it. Once the public takes action, so will they. You can contact Senator Kean, Assemblywoman Munoz, and Assemblyman Bramnick at http://www.njleg.state.nj.us/SelectRep.asp. |