ASBURY PARK PRESS :: MONMOUTH EDITION APP.COM $2.00

05.10.15

VOLUME 136

NUMBER 111

SINCE 1879

@ISSUE 1AABUSINESS 6ACLASSIFIED 1DLOCAL 3ALOTTERIES 2A

OBITUARIES 15AOPINION 4AASPORTS 1CSUNDAY BEST 1EWEATHER 12C

Come June, parents of 49,000 students who refused PARCC tests this

year will breathe a sigh of relief and put the controversial tests be-

hind them. They may not realize, though, their children’s academic

future may be at risk. h Not having the test results means students

could be overlooked for chances to advance to gifted and talented

programs or get the help they need for their studies, especially in an education

culture that relies so heavily on standardized testing. Experts say Americans

are tested more than students in other countries, despite being so far behind

the rest of the world in math. h “There’s a disadvantage for a student in the

system who continues not to be a part of the assessments,” said Bari Erlichson,

assistant commissioner of data, research, evaluation and reporting for the

PARCC TESTING

DOES OPTING OUT= FALLING BEHIND?

Childrencould beoverlookedfor giftedclasses orextra helpwithouttest data

KALA KACHMAR @NEWSQUIP

» Students share their thoughts on PARCC. 9A

» Why Finland has fewer tests and smarter kids. 9A

“It’s important

that we gather as

much

information so no

child is invisible

to us.”

BARI ERLICHSONASSISTANT COMMISSIONER OF

DATA, RESEARCH, EVALUATION

AND REPORTING FOR THE NEW

JERSEY DEPARTMENT OF

EDUCATION

Executives from seven automakersare urging New Jersey lawmakers toscuttle a bill that would put their compa-nies on the line for bigger penalties ifthey violate their contracts with cardealers.

The executives said if the changes tothe state’s Franchise Practices Act pass,it will make it more expensive for themto sell cars in the Garden State, with con-sumers ultimately picking up the tab.

“This bill is the most onerous and inour view the most anti-consumer fran-chise bill that we’ve seen,” said DanGage, a spokesman for the Alliance forAutomobile Manufacturers, a Washing-ton, D.C., trade group.

The battle is the latest chapter in anindustry that is going through a shakeupin New Jersey. Mercedes-Benz in Janu-ary said it would move its longtimeNorth American headquarters fromMontvale to Atlanta, putting a crack inthe state’s claim as the East Coast hub forcarmakers.

In the meantime, New Jersey law-makers last year allowed Tesla to bypassdealers and sell directly to consumers,this after rival dealers convinced theChristie administration to enforce exist-ing state law that required automakersto sell through dealers.

Rough

road for

auto billMICHAEL L. DIAMOND @MDIAMONDAPP

“This bill is the most onerous and inour view the most anti-consumerfranchise bill that we’ve seen.”

DAN GAGESPOKESMAN FOR THE ALLIANCE FOR AUTOMOBILE

MANUFACTURERS, A WASHINGTON, D.C., TRADE GROUP

See AUTOS, Page 7A

ASBURY PARK PRESS FILE PHOTO

Automakers are protesting possible changesto New Jersey’s Franchise Practices Act.

JAMES WARREN/ GANNETT ILLUSTRATION

See TESTS, Page 8A

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Happy Mother’s Day!Meet our Shore supermoms, 4A

NORTH KOREA TRUMPETS TEST OF SUBMARINE BALLISTIC MISSILE PAGE 1B

And they’re off!Catch all the opening dayMonmouth Park action.IN SPORTS