State paid $1.4M for untaken tests after opt-out movement

TRENTON -- State officials say New Jersey paid $1.4 million for PARCC tests that were never taken during the first year of the exams.

NJ.com reports state auditor Stephen Ells in a report released this week found the state overestimated by nearly 60,000 the number of students who would take the math and English tests.

The state Department of Education says the estimate was based on past testing years, but that many parents held their children out of testing, in part due to a so-called "opt-out" movement.

Parent groups and the state's largest teachers union have said the PARCC tests are unproven, confusing and excessively time consuming.

The audit report recommends stronger oversight of the PARCC contract. It also calls for bolstering background checks for state education workers who visit schools.

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