The Record - Christie rolls back impact of test scores on teacher evaluations

TRENTON — The Christie administration announced Monday that the state will roll back the impact of new standardized tests on teacher evaluations, in a reversal for the governor who has been a staunch supporter of the new academic standards linked to those exams. Christie also announced that he will launch a commission to study the effectiveness and impact of all standardized tests given in the state.

The two measures come amid growing criticism of new academic standards known as Common Core and the tests linked to them. Parents have complained that too much testing is harmful to students, while the teachers union has argued that the new exams have been rushed and that it’s too soon to judge teachers on the results. The standards have also been assailed by political conservatives who believe the federal government is defining what is taught in the classroom.

The new measure will minimize the impact of teacher evaluations from 30 percent to 10 percent in the first year and grow incrementally from there — a move welcomed by the teachers’ union.

Christie’s executive order also establishes a commission to review the effectiveness of all K-12 tests that assess student knowledge. The commission will look at volume, frequency, and impact of student testing throughout New Jersey school districts.

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