DeCroce Bill Preventing Standardized Testing in Grades K to 2 Earns Assembly Approval

Source: Assembly Republican Press Release -

The General Assembly today approved legislation sponsored by Assembly Republican BettyLou DeCroce to exempt young school children from standardized testing. The bill, A-3079, prohibits schools from administering standardized assessments from Kindergarten to 2nd Grade.

“Children in the early grades should spend as much class time as possible learning the fundamentals of reading, math and social skills,” said DeCroce, R-Morris, Essex and Passaic. “These years are crucial for forming the foundation for future education. Instead of testing them to collect data, we should allow kids to be kids.”

The bill prohibits commercially developed standardized tests, but DeCroce noted that the bill does not ban all testing in grades K to 2. Evaluations can be administered and scored by a teacher or school board.