ELC Testimony Once Again Highlights the Need to End New Jersey’s High School Exit Exam
Every student who has meets New Jersey’s rigorous high school graduation requirements, including credit, attendance, and coursework requirements, should receive the diploma they earned. Yet, New Jersey is one of just six states that also requires students to earn a specific score on a state test, despite no federal mandate and broad consensus among all major education groups in the state that the decades-long policy should end.
These points were made by Education Law Center’s Nicole Ciullo in testimony delivered before the New Jersey Assembly Education Committee on December 4. Ms. Ciullo, Associate Director of Policy and Development, urged lawmakers to pass A4121, legislation that would eliminate New Jersey’s high school exit exam.
ELC’s testimony highlighted that exit testing disproportionately harms vulnerable student groups and creates many barriers to graduation for students with disabilities. While alternative graduation pathways exist for students who fail to pass the state exam, many are fee-based or require special institutional access. The availability of the portfolio appeals process for students who do not pass the mandated graduation exam or an alternative test depends on each district’s willingness to devote the time and resources necessary to provide the remediation, support, and translation necessary for students to successfully complete a portfolio appeal.
“In practice, access to an alternative graduation pathway depends on a student’s zip code,” said Ms. Ciullo. “In 2022, over 1500 students failed to graduate from high schools that submitted no portfolio appeals; and in 2024, the same was true for 1150 students.”
ELC’s testimony also explained how gaps in graduation pathway data make it difficult to assess the true impact of exit testing on students. While the New Jersey Department of Education is required to release pathway data in its annual graduation and performance reports, it does not include the number of students who fail to graduate specifically as a result of the exit testing requirement.
“By failing to provide transparent data, New Jersey is hiding the real impact of the exit testing policy on students of color and students with disabilities,” said Ms. Ciullo.
ELC’s testimony concluded by reminding lawmakers that eliminating exit testing would not reduce the availability of meaningful data about school and student performance at the district or state levels. It would, however, be the most reliable way to remove a barrier preventing hundreds of students from graduating each year.
A4121 passed the full Assembly on December 8.
Related Stories:
MORE STATES REJECT EXIT EXAMS, WILL NEW JERSEY FOLLOW?
EXIT TESTING IS LOWERING NJ’S GRADUATION RATE
ELC URGES NJ TO ADDRESS NEGATIVE IMPACTS OF HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATION “EXIT TEST” REQUIREMENT
Press Contact:
Sharon Krengel
Director of Policy, Strategic Partnerships and Communications
skrengel@edlawcenter.org
973-624-1815, x240