You read that right: 53% of NJ fourth graders can't do math at grade level. By sixth grade, it’s 60%.

But 80% of kids in NJ public schools get A’s and B’s in math on their report cards anyway. So parents don’t actually know whether their own child is behind. The longer that continues, the harder for kids to catch up on skills they need for life.

That's why parents need to know how their kid is actually doing. They should:

1) Get test results sooner. State test results in math and reading arrive in October. At that point, they don't help you, your kid, or their teacher. You should have them back in a few weeks, not 6 months. Help us Take Action to get the tests back sooner.

2) Don't ignore the results. They might look different from the report card grades. Why is that? That question and many others are essential for parents to ask their teacher to make sure your kid is on track.

3) Learn more about how your child and their school is actually performing.  Wake Up Call NJ is focused on more than just state test scores. Grade transparency. District goal-setting. Real-time student performance data during the year. Together, these provide the clearer picture parents deserve. Here's a simple list of changes that all schools and districts can make today.