SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE

STATEMENT TO

SENATE, No. 127

with committee amendments

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

DATED: JANUARY 18, 1996

      The Senate Education Committee reports favorably Senate Bill No. 127 with committee amendments.

      This bill requires the Commissioner of Education to develop and administer to all fourth grade pupils in the school year which begins in September 1997, and annually thereafter, a test to assess progress toward mastery of State core curriculum standards. At the present time, the State has no way of measuring that progress until the eighth grade warning test. The fourth grade test will identify problems and provide direction to school districts for the design of the most appropriate instructional program for elementary school pupils at the grade levels where intervention is more likely to be effective. In developing the test, the commissioner is directed to consult with educators, parents, community representatives, members of minority groups, and other persons who have expertise in cognitive development and the academic environment of elementary school pupils. The bill also provides that upon implementation of the fourth grade test, local school districts will not be required to administer commercial standardized achievement tests in any other grades, and the elimination of that requirement should result in a savings to the districts of approximately $10 million annually.

      Under the current statutes, the State administers tests in the eighth and eleventh grades.

      The committee adopted amendments to clarify the State standards and the type of tests which will no longer be required.

      This bill was pre-filed for introduction in the 1996 session pending technical review. As reported, the bill includes the changes required by technical review, which has been performed.