NJ Spotlight--Agenda: Teacher Evaluation Revisions Up for First Review
Protests expected over graduation requirements, while state board likely signs off on Common Core replacement
Date: Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Time: 10 a.m.
Where: New Jersey Department of Education, 1st-floor conference room, 100 River View Plaza, Trenton
Teacher evaluation tops list of big topics: The Board of Education will get an opening look at the first significant revisions to the regulations governing the state’s TEACH NJ law that reformed teacher tenure and evaluation. It will be the one new item for consideration on a day otherwise busy with some familiar topics, including proposed high-school graduation requirements and the replacement of the Common Core State Standards. Public testimony in the afternoon is expected to be dominated by critics of the graduation proposal.
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/16/05/03/agenda-teacher-evaluation-revisions-up-for-first-review/
John Mooney | May 4, 2016
NJ Spotlight--Op-Ed: We Must Learn to Teach the Entire Child
Emphasizing the academic aspects of education to the detriment of others will not help develop life-long learners
Public schools have been, and always will be, primarily academic institutions. Yet schools are doing a disservice to students if they exclusively emphasize the academic side of their students’ experiences. We need to be that and so much more.
As UCLA education scholar Mike Rose wrote, "Parents send their kids to school because, in addition to preparing them for the world of work, they want them to learn how to learn, to learn how to work with other people, and to find things that interest them. They want them to become good people."
http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/16/05/03/op-ed-we-must-learn-to-teach-the-entire-child/
Brian P. Gatens and Matthew J. Murphy | May 4, 2016
Associated Press--Parents sue over lead in water at N.J. city's schools
NEWARK — Parents of four students filed a federal lawsuit Tuesday against New Jersey's largest school district and other public officials over lead found in drinking water.
The parents allege in the suit against Newark's public schools that the district deliberately exposed children to harmful levels of lead, which is known to severely affect a child's development. The district shut off water fountains at half of its buildings in March because of elevated lead levels.
The suit is seeking class-action status, according to attorney Joel Silberman. The lawsuit said the district's actions created and increased the risk of serious and life-threatening dangers to the children, and it seeks compensatory and punitive damages.
Newark schools spokeswoman Dreena Whitfield said the district hasn't been served with the lawsuit yet.
The Associated Press
on May 03, 2016 at 6:05 PM, updated May 03, 2016 at 6:08 PM