Bill Text: NJ A3760 | 2022-2023 | Regular Session | Introduced
Bill Title: Exempts certain students from meeting State graduation assessment requirement.
Sponsorship: Partisan Bill (Democrat 2)
Status: (Introduced - Dead) 2022-05-02 - Introduced, Referred to Assembly Education Committee [A3760 Detail]
Download: New_Jersey-2022-A3760-Introduced.html
Sponsored by:
Assemblywoman LISA SWAIN
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
Assemblyman P. CHRISTOPHER TULLY
District 38 (Bergen and Passaic)
SYNOPSIS
Exempts certain students from meeting State graduation assessment requirement.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
An Act concerning the graduation assessment requirement for high school students and supplementing P.L.1979, c.241 (C.18A:7C-1 et seq.).
Be It Enacted by the Senate and General Assembly of the State of New Jersey:
1. a. Notwithstanding the provisions of P.L.1979, c.241 (C.18A:7C-1 et seq.) or the provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, a 12th grade pupil expected to graduate in the class of 2022 who has previously failed to demonstrate mastery of State graduation proficiency standards shall not be required to demonstrate mastery of State graduation proficiency standards in the 2021-2022 school year. The student shall not be required to:
(1) demonstrate State graduation proficiency by achieving a passing score on high school end-of-course assessments;
(2) meet any requirement to demonstrate proficiency through techniques and instruments other than standardized tests as provided under the provisions of section 3 of P.L.1979, c.241 (C.18A:7C-3), notwithstanding the provisions of that section of law or of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary; or
(3) demonstrate proficiency by achieving a passing score, as determined by the Commissioner of Education and approved by the State Board of Education, on any substitute competency test.
b. Notwithstanding the provisions of P.L.1979, c.241 (C.18A:7C-1 et seq.) or the provisions of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary, any 11th grade pupil expected to graduate in the class of 2023 and any 11th or 12th grade pupil expected to graduate in the class of 2023 who has previously failed to demonstrate mastery of State graduation proficiency standards on the State graduation proficiency test shall not be required to demonstrate mastery of State graduation proficiency standards. The student shall not be required to:
(1) pass the State graduation proficiency test as a requirement to graduate high school;
(2) demonstrate proficiency through techniques and instruments other than standardized tests as provided under the provisions of section 3 of P.L.1979, c.241 (C.18A:7C-3), notwithstanding the provisions of that section of law or of any other law, rule, or regulation to the contrary; or
(3) demonstrate proficiency by achieving a passing score, as determined by the commissioner and approved by the State Board of Education, on any substitute competency test.
2. This act shall take effect immediately.
STATEMENT
This bill suspends the statutory graduation assessment requirements for students graduating in the class of 2022 and the class of 2023.
Current State law requires the Commissioner of Education, with the approval of the State Board of Education, to establish a program of standards for graduation from high school, including a Statewide assessment test in reading, writing, and computation skills to be administered to all secondary pupils. Under the law, the State graduation proficiency test is to be administered to all 11th grade pupils and to any 11th or 12th grade pupil who has previously failed to demonstrate mastery of State graduation proficiency standards on that test.
Current State Board of Education regulations lay out the specific requirements and pathways available for students to meet the statutory graduation assessment requirement. The regulations require that students in the graduating class of 2022 demonstrate graduation proficiency by: (1) achieving a passing score on the high school end-of-course New Jersey Student Learning Assessment (NJSLA) or Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessments in English language arts (ELA) 10 and Algebra I; (2) achieving a passing score, as determined by the commissioner, on a corresponding substitute competency test; or (3) submitting a student portfolio appeal to the Department of Education. Students in the class of 2023 may demonstrate graduation proficiency by: (1) achieving a passing score on the ELA and mathematics components of the State graduation proficiency test in the 11th grade; (2) achieving a passing score, as determined by the Commissioner of Education and approved by the State Board of Education, on any substitute competency test; or (3) submitting a student portfolio appeal to the Department of Education.
This bill exempts students expected to graduate in the class of 2022 and the class of 2023 from the statutory graduation assessment requirement and provides that they do not have to meet the various pathways laid out in regulation as a condition of graduation from high school.
