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NJ Spotlight--Sweeney Panel Proposes ‘401(k) Pension’ for Some State, Local Workers
Unions are already mobilizing against key recommendation from Senate President’s fiscal policy experts, who say pension change could save the state billions of dollars
A proposal to move some state and local employees to a new 401(k)-like pension system is gaining support because it has the potential to save billions of dollars. But long before anything is adopted, it’s likely to draw strenuous pushback from the public workers’ powerful unions.
John Reitmeyer | October 1, 2018
Star Ledger--N.J. has a new plan to protect transgender kids in schools
New Jersey schools are about to be out of excuses for violating the rights of transgender students.
The state Department of Education on Thursday sent new guidelines to schools, explaining how to follow a 2017 law that reinforced protections for transgender students, including expressly forbidding districts from keeping students out of the bathrooms and locker rooms that match their gender identity.
Adam Clark| Updated Sep 28; Posted Sep 28
Press of Atlantic City--Our view: Legislative leaders step up as Murphy abandons education reform
Gov. Phil Murphy repeatedly promised to get rid of the standardized tests New Jersey schools use to assess student learning and teacher effectiveness. That would pay back the New Jersey Education Association, the state’s most powerful union election force, for its support.
DAVID DANZIS Staff Writer| Sep 30, 2018
Washington Post--A controversial secretary of education assesses his tenure and his life
When Arne Duncan arrived in Washington nearly a decade ago, his boss instructed him not to sweat the politics of the place. “Just do what you think is right for kids and let me worry about the politics,” Duncan recounts being told.
The story of how Duncan used that latitude from President Barack Obama makes up much of the meat of his memoir, “How Schools Work.” As secretary of education, he played an unusually active role in shaping state and local education policies, largely through a competitive grant program known as Race to the Top.
Sarah Carr| September 28
Education Week--New Money and Energy to Help Schools Connect With Families
Engaging parents draws new energy
It's indisputable that most students perform better academically when they have parents or adults to help with homework and to be advocates with teachers and principals.
But in many communities, parents who juggle multiple jobs, don't speak much English, or have low levels of education often don't have the time or resources to make meaningful connections to their child's schooling experience.
Francisco Vara-Orta| September 25, 2018
