N.J. wants more school accountability without more testing, poll says

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New Jersey residents want more accountability from schools but not more testing, according to a new poll. (Star-Ledger file photo)

New Jersey residents want more accountability from schools but aren't sure standardized tests are the way to achieve it, according to a new Monmouth University Poll.

The poll, conducted via telephone with 805 New Jersey adults between Jan. 30 and Feb. 2, found that 53 percent of respondents say better measures are needed to hold their local schools accountable for how well they educate students.

However, 40 percent said schools have too much testing, compared to 33 percent who believe New Jersey has the right amount and 17 percent who want more testing. The poll, conducted by the Monmouth University Polling Institute, has a 3.5 percent margin of error.

"New Jerseyans like their public schools, but they still want more accountability," said Patrick Murray, director of the independent polling institute. "They are not quite convinced, though, that standardized tests provide an accurate picture of educational outcomes."

New Jersey next month will administer new state tests, the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) exams. But just 30 percent of those surveyed had heard about the test, the poll found.

Among parents, only 58 percent had heard about PARCC, despite growing backlash against the tests in some communities. Just 24 percent of non-parents had heard about PARCC.

The poll found that few of the residents aware of PARCC have a positive opinion of the tests (13 percent), while the others who had heard about the test were divided (45 neutral and 41 percent negative). Among the 1-in-7 New Jerseyans who have heard a lot about the PARCC test, 60 percent held a negative view, while just 21 percent thought positively about the test and 19 percent were neutral.

Meanwhile, 52 percent of those surveyed had heard of the Common Core standards, which have been implemented in New Jersey schools. Opinion is divided, with 42 percent holding a neutral opinion, 37 percent having negative opinion and 19 percent in support.

Among the 1-in-4 New Jerseyans who have heard a lot about the Common Core, 52 percent expressed a negative view, while 27 percent said they were neutral and 20 percent supported the standards.

"The more people have heard about the Common Core and the PARCC the less they like it," Murray said. "Most New Jerseyans, though, have not been paying close attention yet or are taking a neutral position. We'll see which way opinion goes as the tests are administered in the coming months."

Adam Clark may be reached at adam_clark@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on twitter at @realAdamClark. Find NJ.com on Facebook.

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