Contact: Ernie Grigg [email protected] 212-715-1556 FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE March 23, 2015 We Raise NJ Commends New Jersey’s Community College Presidents Support of Higher Standards The We Raise NJ coalition applauds the announcement by New Jersey’s 19 community college presidents regarding assessments aligned with the state’s academic standards. By using scores from the PARCC tests as one of their placement tools, the state’s community colleges are showing a commitment to building a tighter alignment between the skills taught in high school and the expectations of colleges. New Jersey’s students need better preparation for life after high school. More than 47 percent of first time and full-time college and university students in the state have to take remedial courses. In addition to thousands of dollars in extra expenses, these classes cost students their valuable time and in many cases, their drive to continue with their education. If our children complete high school and gain acceptance into an institution of higher education, they should not have to continue taking high school courses. College and career readiness should be the rule – not the exception. By incorporating the 11th grade PARCC test into the admissions process, the state’s community colleges, which are the largest providers of public undergraduate education in the state, are working to alleviate some of the stress that overcomes many high school students. In many cases, students will be able to forgo a whole layer of testing and tutorials related to college placement exams. This announcement will also facilitate greater collaboration between college instructors and K-12 teachers. With what will now be a common way to measure the math and literacy skills students need to succeed in college, K-12 teachers and their higher education counterparts can begin integrating professional development and other resources that support good curriculum and instruction. Our children deserve every opportunity to succeed. This decision by New Jersey’s 19 community college presidents helps them reach their goals. Contact: Ernie Grigg [email protected] 212-715-1556 About We Raise NJ We Raise NJ is a broad coalition led by the New Jersey PTA that supports parents in navigating recent changes to our children’s education. The coalition aims to elevate parent engagement in order to advance the state of education in New Jersey and ensure more successful futures for our students. Recognizing these new tests can be a source of apprehension and uncertainty, We Raise NJ members have pledged to support parents and students during this transition. To see the coalition’s pledge, visit www.weraisenj.org/pledge. For more information on the coalition’s initiatives, visit www.bestfootforwardnj.org. Coalition members New Jersey PTA New Jersey Association of School Administrators New Jersey Association for Supervision and Curriculum Development New Jersey Business and Industry Association New Jersey Council of County Colleges New Jersey Chamber of Commerce Garden State Coalition of Schools JerseyCan New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association New Jersey School Boards Association ###
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