A4121 would eliminate the test currently taken in 11th grade

(TRENTON) — New Jersey is among a small group of states nationwide where high school students are required to take a high school graduation proficiency test. Legislation passed by the Assembly today would eliminate this requirement, removing the pressure of one single exam determining their future.

Bill A4121, sponsored by Assemblywomen Verlina Reynolds-Jackson and Alixon Collazos-Gill, would prohibit the State Board of Education from requiring the inclusion of a proficiency test in State or district standards for graduation from high school. The test, currently taken during a student’s 11^th grade year, requires students to meet a satisfactory performance or else face the possibility of not graduating.

“We have great teachers, we have great administrators, we have great schools, and so students are tested throughout their academic journey,” said Assemblywoman Reynolds Jackson (D-Hunterdon, Mercer). “To burden them with this high-stakes test that creates an unnecessary barrier to graduation is not only unfair, but short-sighted, as it can limit the students’ potential and shut the doors to future success.”

The purpose of using standardized tests as graduation requirements is often to assess college readiness. However, studies have shown that other metrics, such as grade point average, can predict the likelihood of graduation from college up to five times better than standardized test scores.

“We’ve seen numerous studies revealing the flaws in standardized testing, from racial and socioeconomic biases, to inconsistency in classroom material, an inevitability in a state as diverse as ours. While some students have the time to study and prepare, others may face external pressures that can affect how they perform on the day of the exam,” said Assemblywoman Collazos-Gill (D-Essex, Passaic). “More so, these tests fail to reflect the different ways students learn and study, which directly shape their test taking abilities. By moving away from these tests, we are able to better recognize each student's unique strengths and create a more equitable path for them to pursue their future.”