New Jersey is poised to scrap its long-standing requirement that high school students demonstrate academic proficiency before graduating — meaning students would be able to earn a diploma without passing any statewide test that proves what they’ve learned.
The Assembly on Monday approved A4121, a bill that would eliminate New Jersey’s high school graduation proficiency exam, a standardized test taken in 11th grade that students must pass to graduate. Under the legislation, the State Board of Education would be prohibited from requiring any proficiency test as a condition for graduation.
If enacted, New Jersey would effectively end its policy of requiring students to show they mastered basic skills — such as reading, writing, and math — before receiving a high school diploma.
Assemblywoman Verlina Reynolds-Jackson, a co-sponsor of the bill, framed the change as a way to remove unnecessary pressure from students.
“We have great teachers, we have great administrators, we have great schools,” she said. “Students are tested throughout their academic journey. To burden them with this high-stakes test that creates an unnecessary barrier to graduation is not only unfair, but short-sighted.”
For years, New Jersey’s graduation test has been defended as a safeguard ensuring that a diploma represents real academic achievement. But critics of standardized testing argue the exam creates inequities, disproportionately affecting students from disadvantaged backgrounds.
Assemblywoman Alixon Collazos-Gill, who also sponsored the bill, said standardized graduation tests amplify systemic disparities.
“We’ve seen numerous studies revealing the flaws in standardized testing — from racial and socioeconomic biases to inconsistent classroom material,” she said. “Some students have the time to study and prepare; others face external pressures that affect how they perform on the day of the exam. These tests fail to reflect the different ways students learn.”
Studies cited by lawmakers claim that grade-point average predicts college graduation far better than standardized test scores — a key argument behind the push to eliminate the requirement altogether.
Supporters of the bill say the change will create a “more equitable path” to graduation. Its critics warn it will mean New Jersey no longer requires students to demonstrate that they have mastered even basic academic skills before receiving a diploma, a dramatic shift in education policy that could lower academic expectations statewide.
This is the stupidest bill I have seen. Growing up in New York City, the state regents on many subjects was the gold standard.. we have just taken a major step backwards.
I don’t think so , My youngest son was very smart yet he tested horribly and now as a young man is making $150 k with lifetime benefits . Not everyone tests well and those that do sometimes struggle in the workplace due to other skills that are not part of testing
So your son is making 150k without a GED then?
GED. Is a Good Enough Degree. It now has Equity with all Schoold
My husband is making 90k without a GED or diploma. My brother who didnt graduate the 8th grade is making 50k. My sister who missed graduating high school by 3 months is making 60k+…
With what degree, college or trades? Because if its trades, then thats about right. This is ABSOLUTELY stupid.
Really don’t think NJ wants kids to be dumber than other states graduates. How can you possibly suggest a bill just to benefit yourself and horrible parenting , then blaming others
What are we Mississippi? Yes, yes we are…
Well, kids in high performing schools are focussed on IB papers, AP exams, SAT and/or ACT. Fifteen years ago my youngest, IB diploma, told us that they just blow off state testing *because it does not appear on their transcript*. So perhaps there are other ways to determine what high school graduates know and are able to do.
This is the dumbing down of America. First we have some of the worst test scores in the Nation. Then we keep the children out of school for years were scores fall even more and puts them even further behind. Now they want to take away standardized testing because they know they cannot pass because of all of this mess. Give me a break
Time to move out of new jersy
Disgusting.
This is a terrible idea. Keep dumping down our kids vs raising the education level for areas that aren’t cutting it.
“Dumping” down our kids ? This is why we need to maintain this standard
Maybe you meant “dumbing down”?
Has anyone seen the movie Idiocracy? THAT is where we’re headed as a country due to the utterly DANGEROUS and asinine policies such as this. I NEVER tested well, I always struggled, but I did it, because that’s how I learned and understood consequences and effects. In 2024, only about 35% of U.S. 12th graders were “proficient” in reading, with many more at “basic” or “below basic” levels, showing a decline. Educators are pushing students along to inflate graduation rates, masking a lack of core skills, especially in under-resourced areas. Illiteracy is strongly linked to delinquency and crime; so many juveniles in the court system are functionally illiterate, with a HUGE numbers of inmates that can’t read past a fourth-grade level. So so many U.S. high school graduates are functionally illiterate, meaning they struggle with daily living tasks requiring reading. Sh*t rolls down hill, so implementing something like this is a recipe for further disaster as a society.
R U people out of your minds????
Kids are graduating not being able to read, do basic math, can’t spell, clueless about our country’s history ( both good and bad aspects). and so on.
What disgusts me the most is they can’t read some of our country’s most important documents because they’re not taught cursive ( Constitution & Declaration of Independence and others )
STOP prioritizing their ” feelings” over knowledge !!!
This is the equivalent of the ” participation trophy”.
They should take tests to qualify for advancing to the next grade AND graduation or be held back until they do. . You idiots are NOT doing this country or them any favors by graduating ignorant children not prepared to ” take on the world”.
Here’s a novel idea. Spend less money on the administration end and support the teachers to do the best job they can. We don’t need more Welfare queens/kings!!!!.
That is the point of laws such as these. An ignorant population is easier to control than one which is well informed. Remember the old tale of the wolf in sheeps clothing? The liberal government always shrouds their agenda in catch words like fairness, equity, inclusion, diversity etc. When, in fact they care about none of it. What is formal education worth without a means to prove it. Retention tests tell whether or not you actually remember that which you were taught.
You are an excellent example of why some kind of standard should be enforced. Maybe testing will benefit. Maybe not. In your case maybe not since you think fairness, equity and diversity to be a negative.
It is. What you don’t seem to understand is that this isn’t about fairness at all that’s just an excuse to dumb down our kids. So yes in this case fairness is a negative
Facts facts
No responsibility for anything just what are society needs
Our
So why not the schools do a better job? How can you give a reward without having them earn it? You think they’re not going to have pressures throughout life and still be expected to perform up to par?
That’s real nice for a bleeding heart liberal ideology but it doesn’t work in real life.
I agree with those who are against the bill. Students need a push. Students need the pressure to see where they stand educational wise. Society won’t take it easy on them when applying for a job or going to college. Kids are too spoiled as is and now the bill A4121 has just added to it.
Goodness gracious are you kidding me? Once again a myopic view. So when these students who you claim are already at a disadvantage have to go out in the world to get a job and cannot do 3rd grade arithmetic or spell correctly do you think they will get the job? And clearly by your own admission they would not be able to get accepted into college or succeed. It’s not the academic testing, it’s those who let them slip by all throughout school instead of addressing any or all academic problems from their younger years. Parents put their children in the hands of teachers to learn, but According to your assertions about a test, you are more than suggesting that your “great teachers” have not actually taught the disadvantaged children to speak of. You who are suggesting to remove the academic testing are putting the very children you think you are defending at a greater disadvantage of not succeeding in life and creating more future dangers and distress for them. Find another way to help the students instead of what you are proposing , which is only going to hurt them in the long run. How can you not see that you are hurting these children instead of helping them and creating more socioeconomic problems for their futures. Here’s a simple fix, I’ll do your job for you. Starting in grade 10 have a mentoring program set up with the more wiser and educated retired seniors who would like to or are able to volunteer their time and knowledge to tutor basic skills that you claim these children do not have because your great schools and great teachers apparently and according to what you are saying did not do their jobs. Newsflash! It’s not the test that is the problem.
Right on, sister!!!
The north east particularly New Jersey has been historically known to have great education. By lowering standard to not ascertaining high school students to have even the basic understanding of academics is a tragedy! Identify the students who need help and provide them with assistance, not lower standards in New Jersey very sad! You are only hurting the students future by lowering standards as well as educational standards that have been higher than the rest of the country. Someone’s head needs to be examined for making this decision.
Nothing calls out the soft bigotey of low expextations quite like this. It’s been many years since the business community and educational associations united to implement standards that would position students for success after high school, no matter whether whether wanted to live, learn or earn. The high school graduation test currently in place was an effort to ensure that students and parents could assess whether they were ready. There are alternate certifications for completion of HS but nothing that says to an employer or trades program, yes, this student is worth your consideration. GPA in an era of grade inflation is meaningless. It feels like the years education and business leaders spent working on helping kids to be ready for success was an enormous waste of time.
This is a joke. Great job liberal scum
That does NOT reflect Liberal views.
NJ is a deep blue Democrat governed state from top to bottom. There are NO Republicans for you to blame. THIS is liberal governance.
It absolutely does, dei stands for don’t employ idiots, like you
Since when?
Dumbest idea ever. This will not help our children prepare for the future. I guess it helps all the ILLEGALS pass, that’s all Democrats care about.
Poor New Jersey with that kind of politicians that propose dumb policies
Sure…just pass the one who can’t read or write…leave the burden this creates to the rest of us.
Huge mistake. Fatal mistake. If you think today’s graduates in urban NJ are lacking a thorough and efficient education now, wait until this law takes effect. New Jersey’s urban students will become “the dumbest generation”, Gen Zero.
I agree 100%… One of the biggest mistakes if they made in the past was no child left behind, which was total b.S because the kids do not knew the work.They should not be promoted to the next lgrade..My daughter has triplet boys and between COVID and missing a year of school. and being in special education programs due to autism. these kids don’t have a chance to be able to earn a decent living because they don’t know how to read properly.and they certainly don’t know how to write.They can defend the teachers.All they want and the administration.but it is all lies.Our kids are not being taught properly and the administration is way overpaid.In my opinion..New Jersey is going to hell in a basket. I feel so bad for the kids today. Parents you need to get to the board meetings. Stand up for your kids,don’t allow this to happen.
Linda, I taught high school children for 32 years. The majority of parents do NOT attend open house meetings, teacher-parent /student conferences or any of the programs
that directly involve their children! Teachers were required to attend 2-3 school open house meeting to discuss their students academic progress as well as their preparedness, behavior, etc. I can tell you, that out of the 100+ students that I taught daily, most of the time ONLY 4 – 10 parents would show up for any of those meetings! The discipline problems that a large number of teacher’s experienced stemmed from problems at their home (socio-economic)…
And just overall poor neglectful parenting!
Many of the parents looked to teachers and other staff to actually ‘raise’, feed, clothe, and
baby-sit their children! I can honestly tell you, I spent extra early days and very late evenings at school, hours on the phone talking to those parents that I could reach via phone. Yes, there are teacher’s whose knowledge and teaching skills are such that
they should not have been hired as a teacher!
Teacher’s need the support of not just the administrator’s, but most importantly…the parents! Teacher’s bear the brunt of poor or little to no input and no support from parents
and administrators! The total blame is unfairly placed on the classroom teacher!
Then there is sometimes hostile and unsafe environment not just for the students…But for the teacher’s and the entire staff.
The nerve of some of you to say that teachers don’t earn their money! First of all, teachers do not make a lot of money! Gee, thanks to our crummy unions and top administrators. They don’t pay teacher’s enough money for what they do in these classrooms and schools!! When COVID-19 forced social distancing and school/job closures, it forced many parents to see up-close and personal their children’s poor academic skills and poor behavior. Now, you see what we teacher’s deal with on a daily basis!
If you really were a teacher, you SHOULD know apostrophes are NOT to show plurals. More than one teacher = teachers. Belonging to the teacher = teacher’s. Belonging to more than one teacher = teachers’. YOU seem to be part of the problem!
Punctuation nazi.
If you’re a teacher then you are the stupidest so called teacher ever
It is a ploy for more students to graduate HS and then attend Community College only to fail. The higher the enrollment in a college, the more feathers in administration’s cap. This will also serve to put some feathers in our polititions’ cap as we will have a very high HS graduation rate. How about putting students first and giving them a good education.
China will be happy and the demonrats just keep doing the communist bidding of china. Way to go for keeping Jersey stupid and blue. Smh. Disgusting.
I am encouraged by you insight and all the comments I’ve seen on this matter. I am a moderate conservative voter and judging from all of these comments it seems we are of like mind. My biggest question remains: how in the world is Ner Jersey still a blue state!
I am utterly flabbergasted !! First I will.say yes testing issues do exist ,in recognizing this fact they are getting tested a year prior to graduation. They have an entire year to to retake it so absolutely zero excuses to remove this requirement. It does not matter if there are great teachers ,so many fall through the cracks & everything done via laptop makes cheating your way through much easier. So a test a simple test making sure you ready to face the adult world is absolutely necessary! Why does the government regardless of state or federal keep failing the future generations? It’s already difficult enough with Ai being pushed to take over so many first time jobs needed to build experience ,is NJ hoping to increase profits for the prison industry ? This is reckless.
Keep voting Democrat and this is the garbage you get people.
I agree with all who have posted the people who voted for this should be voted out of office
I can’t believe the standard for quality in education has been lowered to this absurdity in NJ, Thomas Edison’s home state. While in the other side of the world, there are still students who walk a long, dangerous road everyday to go to school and make sure they pass their final graduation exam. Then they have to take another entrance exam to get accepted to a university. As for them, education is a mere solution to end poverty and climb up social hierarchy. Their mentality and resilience is built up that way so they later enter the workforce great strength and excellence to keep up with the real challenges. How can the American youth do in the competition later when we build them with such lousy standard early on??? Easy and lowering requirements just lead to more mental distress in later life expectation, no common sense, no discipline and then drug/substance abuse will be their easy choice to keep avoiding reality. Is this really how you want our next generation to become ?!?! Such a shame!!
Yes, add another test. In fact, don’t let them graduate. Make them repeat a year. Who cares if they didn’t eat that morning, or if they have trouble at home, or they are from a single parent household and the parent can’t afford tutoring help. Throw more anxiety on them. Worrying about school shootings and climate change is not enough to toughen them up. And those kids who have learning disabilities and have high intelligence but major test anxiety just need to tough it out. If they didn’t learn all the basics, reading, writing and math, then I’m sure the added anxiety of a test at graduation is going to set them straight. Every child needs to fit in the same square box, no matter how differently their brain works.
So. Pass the illiterate children. Send them into the world unprepared. 🙄🙄🙄
You are part of the problem not part of the solution
Very inappropriate. Let’s just give every graduate a doctorate degree of their choice not to frustrate them too much!
If an 11th grade standardized test is to hard to pass. Then the student was not taught well. A warning sign should have been seen earlier if the teacher is aware of their students needs. Do not eliminate testing instead bring the students up to par and give extra help to the ones who need it.
Well, you haven’t learned to, too, and two. Also, you don’t know how to use apostrophes to show possession.
I find it funny when people express their opinion in ignorance. The NJGPAs are not basic skills test. How about this….Anyone who expresses that they should be required, including legislators who vote to require them should have to take them and pass them. I guarantee you, most wouldn’t.
Also know that there are pathways so that any student who puts time in, will pass an alternative and graduate. Not requiring them would just save a lot of money, time, and other wasted resources.
I didn’t understand your point. Can you clarify if you are for or against at high school proficiency test before graduation?
Please enlighten me, thanks
Agreed. Just because a test is eliminated doesn’t mean they don’t know the basics. They get regular report cards and test grades through out. If they are failing, don’t pass them. Graduation should not depend on one test.
My question to you regarding the saving of money and resources is this: where does that money go ? To other programs that add value to the students education? I don’t agree with the premise of ending a program without putting those resources toward other beneficial student outcomes. Easier doesn’t mean better.
What’s next at age 17 u just get a drivers license without passing a test, these assembly assholes need to be removed from their positions. They are racist morons., but what do you expect from a nazi Democrat state that prioritizes criminal immigrants over its own citizens.
I would bet Assembly Women Verlina Reynolds-Jackson and Alixon Collazos-Gill would likely not be able to pass the graduation test themselves.
Proof of proficiency in math and other skills that a high school graduate should have, has nothing to do with privilege, race, ethnicity or zip code.
The test is to ensure every high school diploma recipient has consistent academic minimum skills set.
These two nitwit Assembly Women show be voted out of office as soon as possible.
As NJ always does push kids through instead of making sure our kids can survive in the real world ..there doing this because they do not educate our kids right.we scored really low in these tests .and yet we have the highest school taxes in the United States .which most goes to administrators which we don’t need half of .family higher s .when are the people of nj going to wake up and vote in people who will actually do something .instead just raising taxes .hold people accountable .this just another way to .hide what a bad job they do .. instead of challenging our kids to do better we treat them like babies .sad this does not surprise me .how about our governor letting murders out of jail .and not arresting parole violaters
Whoever sponsored this bill should be recalled by their constituencies! Disgusting!!
Keep voting Democrats
You get what you wanted.
Yes 100 percent nazi democrats fault, maybe democrats should stick to killing people for going to church
How did the sponsors of this learn to spell all those last names?
Maybe you meant “dumbing down”?
Why not just eliminate school altogether and get rid of the teachers
Hey Jo, you make a great point! Sam Walton, the founder of Walmart had a 3rd grade education. He seems to have made out just fine!! 😂 Every thing I need to know I learned in kindergarten!
Equity means everyone at equal levels. So we graduate kids who are blow functional levels especially in Reading and Math. How does this raise equity? I’m a retired teacher and seems we keep dumbing down achievement requirements to lessen some ” burdens ” on our students. This doesn’t raise the bar to try to have our kids achieve high goals. Our kids need to be at level when graduating. Nomatter what career path they take they need to be at high thinking, Reading and Math levels.
I have an idea, try to give an opinion without calling people scum, Nazis etc.
The wealthy have succeeded, they’ve turned half the country against the other half while putting their hand in your pocket and taking as much as they possibly can.
Time to wise up.
Democrats are nazi,baby murdering, scumbags . They are the ones who started hate speech and now we are going to shove it down their throats.
Acronym for Liberal- lacking in basic education, reasoning and logic liberal. Another dumb idea by a dumb democrat
Ha ha ha that’s the best thing I have heard in a long time
Graduating high school should mean more than just attending. A diloma should indivate a specific level of competence. Yes, some students will be more challenged due to economic or racial diversity but the test should be about the competence achieved! This is the trump approach to covid, no tests no disease. Testing and proof oc accomplishment is critical.
Wow, the ignorance in the comments, and all by boomer age adults who ignore all the studies done about standardized testing, their inefficiency, the disproportionate lower scores in (smart) kids with ADHD, etc. It’s like they forgot you still have to pass actual classes to graduate? Everyone saying that this is about basic minimum skills seems to have forgotten what report cards are, too. They say you have time to prepare, but that’s not the issue. Also, that time to prepare actively takes away from time that should be spent focusing on classes. Graduation shouldn’t be based on one test, period.
plus the people talking about having folks in the workforce that aren’t equipped…..forgetting college exists??? These kids still have to take the SAT. Adding a state specific standardized test actively takes away from their time to prepare for THAT.
Some kids are more a hands on child then a book smart child. Which means he can be studying all day a book or reading and trying to memorize what the academic world wants them to get into their head/brain and it wont enter and the child will get frustrated. Instead they learn by being hands on or manually child. They will or are able to memorize and learn it with no problem when they are physically building, solving or creating what they learn manually. Each child is drliffrent the way they learn or memorize information.
Once graduates with IQ of 70 become school administrators with IQ of 70 – we are screwed. This already happened. Do not let dummies to know that they are dummies. “Equity” is more important that truth or common sense. Dragging everybody down to the lowest common denominator is our “liberal” style. As far as the brains – we will keep buying them from China and India. Till they are willing to sell.
This is just a Shame on the sponsors and supporters of this bill. Why won’t the kids from other nations excel over ours and take on big roles in American companies.
It’s because of senseless laws sponsored be political opportunist make our children unable to grow and compete.
Keep voting for the same stupid people, and get the same stupid results
Teachers and schools may do a fair job of teaching but that is not documentation or proof of learning and passing the material. . Bias may play a role in grades etc. It’s better to document with an exam. If a student doesn’t pass provide help in the areas they are failing. This is fair and less embarrassing for students who struggle. The children want to feel proud not treated differently or as if they can’t do it like other kids. Passing without effort is diminishing and humiliating. I’m a therapist who has worked with children. I also worked as a teacher. It’s hard work. None of my students failed exams. Perhaps it’s because I don’t accept failure for any reason.
another dumb move from trenton
Schools are failing so stop measuring the failure!
Maybe next they’ll get rid of High school all together. They stopped the kids from learning how to write cursive…. they took away art classes, music classes, gym classes… they took the School nurses away… stopped the Pledge of Allegiance…
Pretty soon they’ll have it so kids don’t have to go to school at all. SMH.
There are currently 6 states that require this type of exam. Just saying….
I see nothing wrong with more testing. Better to give students a heads up if they are going to a nj community College or university they will be tested to see if they need remedial English or math before they will be allowed to enroll in ‘real’ classes that will count towards their degree. Remedial classes will waste their time and money.
We had to fire NJ high school grads because they could not read paint can labels, e.g. “chrysanthemum.”
Teachers should be accessing the kids every step of the way not waiting until 11th grade to determine if they can read, do basic math, etc.
Yeah I mean we wouldn’t want kids to learn how to handle pressure. That never happens in the real world 🙄