SENATE RESOLUTION No. 112

STATE OF NEW JERSEY

INTRODUCED DECEMBER 15, 1997

By Senators ADLER and McGREEVEY

A Senate Resolution calling upon the State Board of Education to replace the core curriculum content standards for language arts literacy with the English standards adopted by the State of Massachusetts.

Whereas, In May 1996 the State Board of Education adopted core curriculum content standards covering seven academic areas; and

Whereas, A recent analysis of the language arts literacy standards by the Thomas B. Fordham Foundation ranked those standards at the very bottom of comparable standards adopted by 28 other states; and

Whereas, Among the criticisms, the foundation noted that the language arts standards do not stress the use of standard English, neglect the need to teach American literature, and in many areas are impossible to decipher or to measure; and

Whereas, The American Federation of Teachers also conducted a state-by-state analysis of curriculum standards and concluded that New Jersey's language arts literacy standards were not clear and thorough enough to provide necessary guidance to teachers and administrators; and

Whereas, The Thomas B. Fordham Foundation ranked the language arts standards of Massachusetts as the best of the 28 states analyzed, noting that they were clear, specific and measurable; now, therefore,

    Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey:

    1. The State Board of Education is called upon to replace the core curriculum content standards for language arts literacy adopted in May 1996 with the English standards adopted by the State of Massachusetts.

    2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and attested by the Secretary of the Senate, shall be transmitted to the Commissioner of Education and to the State Board of Education.

STATEMENT

    This resolution calls upon the State Board of Education to replace the core curriculum content standards for language arts literacy adopted in May 1996 with the English standards adopted by the State of Massachusetts.

Calls upon State Board of Education to replace language arts standards with English standards adopted by State of Massachusetts.