In a move that has sparked widespread concern among education advocates, New Jersey has officially eliminated the requirement for prospective teachers to pass a basic competency exam in reading, writing, and mathematics to earn certification. Signed into law by Democratic Governor Phil Murphy as part of the state’s 2025 budget, Act 1669 decisively passed the state senate in a lopsided 34-2 vote.
The new law, which took effect last June, declares that the State Board of Education “shall not require a candidate seeking any instructional certificate…to complete a Commissioner of Education-approved test of basic reading, writing, and mathematics skills.” This means that aspiring educators no longer need to pass exams like the Praxis Core Academic Skills for Educators test to step into a classroom.
State leaders claim the change is necessary to address staffing shortages in schools. Democratic Senator Jim Beach, the bill’s sponsor, argued, “We need more teachers. This is the best way to get them.” The powerful New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), a teachers union that supported the measure, labeled the testing requirement an “unnecessary barrier” to entering the teaching profession.
Critics, however, argue that removing these basic standards not only undermines the teaching profession but also puts students at risk of receiving a subpar education. The decision raises serious questions about the state’s priorities: Should filling teaching vacancies come at the cost of ensuring qualified educators in classrooms?
Conservative voices have raised alarms, pointing out that this shift in policy reflects a broader pattern of lowering standards across various institutions, particularly in education. By dismissing the need for basic competency exams, New Jersey risks prioritizing quantity over quality—a decision that could have long-term consequences for the future of American students.
Meanwhile, in Virginia, a growing number of parents are fighting back against what they view as the infiltration of woke and racially divisive ideologies in public schools. Five families in Albermarle County have taken legal action against the local school district, alleging that its policies are discriminatory and infringe on their children’s civil rights.
The lawsuit, backed by the Alliance Defending Freedom (ADF), challenges the school board’s implementation of a curriculum that the plaintiffs argue imposes demeaning racial stereotypes and compels students to affirm ideologies that may conflict with their deeply held moral and religious beliefs.
“Public schools can’t impose demeaning stereotypes on students based on these characteristics,” said ADF Senior Counsel Vincent Wagner. “Parents have the fundamental right to know what their kids are being taught…and to protect them from policies and curriculum that compel them to affirm harmful ideologies.”
The ADF claims that the district’s policies violate civil rights by treating students differently based on race and by suppressing dissenting opinions through intimidation. Parents are reportedly not allowed to opt their children out of these lessons, and any opposition to the curriculum is labeled “racist,” with threats of punishment.
This ongoing battle highlights a growing national trend: parents reclaiming their role as the primary decision-makers in their children’s education. From eliminating competency exams in New Jersey to enforcing ideological curricula in Virginia, these stories underscore the urgent need for a return to common-sense policies that prioritize academic excellence and parental rights over political agendas.
