The WW-P school board voiced opposition to a pending PARCC power grab abetted by the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE).
At the June 14 meeting, the board approved a resolution opposing graduation requirements being proposed by NJDOE. WW-P joins a growing club of school districts, with Hopewell, Princeton, and East Windsor already having passed similar resolutions. The Middlesex Regional Educational Services Commission (WW-P participates in its purchasing co-op) also passed a resolution back in April.
The resolution states NJDOE’s proposed graduation requirements “do not conform to state law and were not duly promulgated and approved by the State Board of Education in a manner that provided due process and adequate, fair notice to school districts, parents, and especially students.”
The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) replaced the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) and Alternative High School Assessment in New Jersey’s standardized assessment system. However, the previous standardized tests were easier to administer as PARCC exams are subject specific.
One concern is NJDOE’s new graduation requirements would force districts state-wide to guide these students through time-consuming and questionable alternative assessment options, according to the board’s resolution.
Of perhaps greater concern is NJDOE’s proposal to make PARCC the only testing option that will satisfy state graduation requirements, a proposal that will first apply to the class of 2021, or rising eighth graders.
The resolution opposes the establishment of minimum PARCC passing scores as a graduation requirement and supports the continuation of “multiple pathways to a high school diploma that includes alternatives not based on standardized tests.”
In other news, the board approved three bylaw changes introduced at the May 10 meeting. The public comment time limit under the proposed changes would be extended from two minutes to three. Currently there are two uncapped public commenting periods that bookend the meeting agenda, and the proposed bylaw change would limit the first public commenting period to 60 minutes and limit the second period to 15 minutes. If more time is needed, a majority of the board could vote to extend the public comment period. West Windsor Council officially caps its public commenting period at 30 minutes, though in practice Council simply allows time for every would-be speaker.
The bylaws state the presiding officer may ask disorderly persons to leave and request police assistance to remove disruptive persons. The presiding officer can also adjourn public comments if “public decorum” is lacking.
The board also approved an agreement with U.S. Security Associates, Inc. to staff security personnel at all 10 schools in the district for the 2016-’17 school year. The agreement is estimated to cost more than $500,000 and is a continuation of the district’s “Eyes on the Door” policy.
