Gov. Murphy still wants to phase out PARCC despite pushback

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) -- New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy says his mind is unchanged about phasing out a controversial standardized test despite legislative concerns over dropping the exams.

Murphy spoke Tuesday in Carteret at an unrelated announcement on preschool expansion.

His comments come a day after Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet testified before a joint Assembly and Senate committee on the administration's proposal to curtail the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers exams. They're commonly known as PARCC tests.

Murphy's fellow Democrats said they were concerned about the phase-out and want more conversations about the proposal. It's unclear how lawmakers could halt the proposals.

Murphy is seeking to drop from six to two the number of required PARCC tests required in high school.