New Jersey students struggled to pass state exams in English Language Arts and math last spring, according to state data released Wednesday.

About 44 percent of students got passing grades in math, while 58 percent passed English exams, the results from the Department of Education showed. The data also showed wide achievement gaps for students who are low income, who have limited English or who have disabilities.

The report from the Department of Education comes as the state is developing a plan to replace New Jersey Learning Assessments, the tests formerly called PARCC. The exams had been controversial from the start, with critics saying they were too tough and time consuming and that they compelled teachers to focus lessons on testing.

Students in grades 3 to 11 took the state exams, but the state did not include data for 11th-graders in the report this year. The grade level was omitted because the test was optional for those students, officials said.

In a statement, the Department of Education said it will issue a request for proposals for new assessments in the current school year. In 2021-22, the state will roll out a new graduation exam for 11th-graders, which is required under state law. The following year, the state plans to introduce new exams for students in grades 3 to 9, according to education officials.

Currently, high school juniors and seniors must earn passing scores on an approved standardized test to graduate, which could include the state exam, SAT, ACT or military placement exam. Eligible students can also submit a work portfolio to prove graduation readiness.

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Federal law requires states to test students in math and reading in grades 3 to 8 and at least once in high school to measure progress and identify schools in need of additional support.

But it does not require states to use those tests as a graduation measure. Gov. Phil Murphy said he wants to get rid of “exit testing” requirement, but legislators will have to overhaul the law to make that happen.