Common Core Standards, Online Testing Continue to Gain Ground in NJ

While a few states are getting cold feet about the new Common Core State Standards and the online testing they entail, most New Jersey politicians are concerned chiefly about costs and are waiting -- none too patiently -- for more details from the Christie administration.

And even a pair of bills that would delay implementation of the Common Core and PARCC (Partnership for the Assessment of College and Career Readiness), its online testing component, are going nowhere fast. That pessimistic assessment came courtesy of state Sen. Jeff Van Drew (D-Cape May), the primary sponsor of a bill that would delay the start of PARCC -- now slated for 2014-2015 -- until a task force evaluates the standards, testing, and the state's implementation.

Commenting last week, Van Drew said “I spoke with the commissioner about it, and legislative leaders, and in a nutshell, it will be a heavy lift at this point.” He conceded that he doesn't see his legislation making much headway without support from the administration and the Democratic majorities of both the Senate and the Assembly.

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