Urges Department of Education to impose moratorium on new Student Learning Standards.
Impact
The resolution highlights the urgent educational challenges arising from the COVID-19 pandemic, which has reportedly erased decades of progress in student achievement in critical subjects such as mathematics and reading. This decline is further emphasized by the United States' drop in global rankings for competitiveness, as evidenced by poor performance on standardized assessments. ACR162 seeks to temporarily pause the introduction of new educational standards to allow lawmakers to devise strategies to address these critical achievement gaps before new expectations are set.
Summary
ACR162 is an Assembly Concurrent Resolution from the State of New Jersey, introduced to urge the Department of Education to impose a two-year moratorium on the development and implementation of new Student Learning Standards. This resolution reflects growing concern among parents and guardians regarding the current standards approved in June 2020, which have undergone extensive changes across several content areas. The call for a moratorium arises amidst significant discontent and a backlog of over 50 pending bills related to educational standards and curriculum.
Contention
Support for ACR162 stems primarily from concerns about the effectiveness of the current learning standards and their potential impact on students' recovery from learning disruptions caused by the pandemic. However, some legislators may argue against the moratorium, citing the need to continuously improve educational standards to meet evolving instructional needs. The discussion surrounding the resolution underscores a broader debate about educational policy in New Jersey, particularly regarding how best to support students amidst ongoing challenges in the wake of COVID-19.
Opposes State Board of Education revised New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education on sex education adopted on June 3, 2020.
Requires instruction on voting in curriculum of students in grade 12 as part of implementation of New Jersey Student Learning Standards in Social Studies.
Requires school districts to provide instruction on water safety as part of New Jersey Student Learning Standards for Comprehensive Health and Physical Education.