Despite his promises on the campaign trail, Governor Phil Murphy will not eliminate PARCC this year.  According to acting Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet, New Jersey is already committed to PARCC for the 2018-19 school year.  Repollet was unable to give a clear timeframe for elimination of the exam, as he explained that designing a replacement test will take time.  While New Jersey could use a previously designed test, like many other states chose to do, it seems that the Department of Education does not plan to go in that direction.

Instead, the Murphy Administration plans to continue using PARCC for student and teacher evaluation on a year-to-year basis.  In the meantime, they are launching a 21-county listening tour to gather insight from teachers, students and parents.  Repollet told lawmakers and parents that eventually he hopes that the state will have a customized exam, “a New Jersey test for New Jersey standards for New Jersey students.” Teachers and parents are encouraged to sign up for the listening tour to share their ideas with the Department of Education.