N.J. Parents, Teachers, Students Oppose New Standardized Test

TRENTON, N.J. (CBSNewYork/AP) - Some parents, teachers and students are telling New Jersey's Board of Education to slow down implementing a new standardized test scheduled to roll out in March.

They expressed their frustrations at Wednesday's meeting of the board that sets school policy.

They say the assessment designed by the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers has teachers stressed and students focused on tests rather than more meaningful learning. They also say that its administration on computers has meant that some school libraries have turned into computer labs.

Some parents are having their students skip the exam.

The new test replaces previous state exams and is to be a factor in teachers' evaluations.

Proponents say the new exams stress critical thinking more than the previous ones did.

New Jersey education officials said in November 2014 student passage rates dropped slightly on standardized tests last year.

The 2013-14 school year was the last time this set of exams was to be used.

The drop-offs were minor, less than 1 percentage point on each exam.

You Might Also Be Interested In:

(TM and © Copyright 2015 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2014 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)