Assemblywoman Michele Matsikoudis, a member of the New Jersey General Assembly, announced on social media that her proposal to eliminate the state’s high school exit exam has advanced with bipartisan support.
On December 9, 2025, Matsikoudis posted, “UPDATE Yesterday, a bipartisan coalition of legislators voted to advance the proposal I sponsored to eliminate NJ’s ineffective and burdensome high school exit exam!
Make no mistake: while properly employed standardized testing can have value… (1/2)”.
In a follow-up post on the same day, she added, “…in identifying gaps & guiding instruction, the NJGPA has failed to meet the mark. A4121 allows us to save resources, restore valuable classroom instruction time, and end a mandate that no longer effectively serves its intended purpose.
Read More: https://t.co/k6QnB5ABrT“.
On December 10, 2025, Matsikoudis shared another message highlighting camaraderie among women in the legislature: “Always proud to serve alongside these outstanding women in the Assembly – including when we accidentally match on a voting session day!
CC: @NancyFMunoz @AswAuraDunn”.
The New Jersey Graduation Proficiency Assessment (NJGPA) was implemented as a requirement for high school graduation but has faced criticism regarding its effectiveness and impact on instructional time. The proposed legislation referenced by Matsikoudis seeks to repeal this requirement and redirect educational focus toward classroom learning rather than mandated standardized testing. Matsikoudis is part of ongoing legislative efforts in New Jersey addressing education policy reform within the state.
