TRENTON, NJ – New Jersey Democrats advanced a bill this week that would permanently eliminate the state’s high school graduation proficiency test, a decades-old requirement that students pass a standardized exam before receiving a diploma.
The measure, Assembly Bill 4121, was approved by the Assembly Education Committee on Thursday, marking a key step toward removing the test from state graduation standards.
Lawmakers said the move is aimed at promoting educational equity and reducing barriers for students who struggle with standardized testing despite meeting all other graduation requirements.
Bill would remove all testing references from graduation law
Under current law, all 11th-grade students must take a statewide graduation proficiency test, often referred to as the “exit exam,” to demonstrate minimum competency in language arts and mathematics.
The bill would strike that requirement entirely, prohibiting the State Board of Education from conditioning a diploma on performance on any statewide exam.
It would also remove references to the test from multiple statutes, including those related to school district report cards, adult education diplomas, and performance evaluations for renaissance school projects.
Education officials would still track learning standards
Although the statewide graduation test would end, the Department of Education would continue to administer standardized assessments required by federal law for school accountability purposes.
The measure would also clarify that students pursuing the State Seal of Biliteracy would not have to take a graduation exam as a prerequisite for graduation.
Lawmakers cite fairness, critics warn of lower standards
Supporters of the bill argue that eliminating the exam ensures students are not denied diplomas due to a single test score and that educators should evaluate achievement based on coursework and credit completion.
Critics have warned that removing the test could weaken statewide standards and make it more difficult to measure whether schools are adequately preparing students for college or the workforce.
If enacted, the bill would repeal all provisions mandating the state-administered proficiency test for 11th and 12th graders.
Assembly Bill 4121 would permanently abolish New Jersey’s high school graduation exam, shifting the focus from standardized testing to classroom performance.
