By Christie Duffy
Correspondent
Today the state Department of Education reported that 90 percent of New Jersey schools have the technology they need to test students.
The state Board of Education president seemed surprised and asked how they came up with the number.
“People that I go out and talk to, they say, ‘Yeah we’re gonna be OK.’ But here is what we have to do to deal with this. It just seems like there is more than 10 percent that are not ready,” said NJ Board of Education President Mark Biedron.
“I think I was equally as shocked as the president of the Board of Education was regarding that 90 percent number because that is not at all what we’re hearing,” said New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) Vice President Marie Blistan.
The assistant commissioner tells NJTV News the number is even higher.
When asked how many schools or districts are ready at this point in time, New Jersey Department of Education Assistant Commissioner Bari Erlichson said, “Nearly 100 percent.”
In March, grades 3-12 statewide will take the first entirely electronic standardized test. New Jersey is one of 13 states signed up for the PARCC test, the exam designed to evaluate how well the Common Core has been introduced.
Educators tell NJTV schools are in a race to buy computers and increase internet speeds. Some have spent hundreds of thousands, even over a million dollars.
The new scores will impact whether students can graduate. So parents want progress.
“Their big concern is will my child be able to take this exam? Another concern in that is that the school district is not ready for the test,” said NJ PTA President-elect Rose Acerra.
“We are getting there. We still have a lot of work before now and March but I’m confident we’re moving in the right direction,” Erlichson said.
The state declined to provide NJTV for the data backing up the claim of a 90 percent readiness rate. Now legislators and education leaders also want to see the raw data.
“I think that anything that is being used for tax dollars and for high stakes for students should absolutely be transparent,” Blistan said.
The state did report that during a springtime practice run, 60 percent chose to download the test rather than do it online, which they say ironed out lots of problems. They say schools can download the test when the real thing comes around. The state is also committing around $800,000 to help schools get technologically ready. The money has not yet been distributed.