HADDON HEIGHTS — While answering questions from a crowd of about 400 people at a town hall at Atlantic Avenue School, Gov. Chris Christie said he plans to make an announcement in the coming days on how the state will move forward on school testing.

The governor had been addressing a question from a resident who was concerned with the number of standardized tests students in New Jersey take, as well as the practice of teachers spending class time focusing on those tests to the detriment of other subjects.

"I do understand your concern regarding the quality and frequency of tests," said Christie. "I do think we need some kind of testing, to show how students are progressing. You can't just go on your gut, or by grades, because teachers and schools grade differently."

Christie referenced the new PARCC testing system, stating he is currently in talks with education officials on "how to roll that out."

"I've got four kids, three of them in the K through 12 system," said Christie. "I see the stress that it places on them."

He later added, "Expect an announcement in five to 10 days on how to go forward on this."

Christie also said he believes that the oft-repeated concern over teachers being unable to adequately cover subjects like science and history, due to having to "teach the test," is "a bit of exaggeration."

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Contact staff writer Jason Laday at 856-686-3628 or jladay@southjerseymedia.com.