Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

8-19-16 Education in the News

NJ Spotlight--Some Improvement Seen in Camden Schools: Blip or New Beginning?

Camden charters and Renaissance schools — the first in New Jersey — show signs of promise, but test scores at district schools remain mired at the bottom

As Camden’s schools prepare to begin a fourth year under state control, their superintendent argues that a spate of reforms has begun to improve one of New Jersey’s poorest and lowest-performing districts.

“By almost every measure, our schools are better today than they were three years ago,” Superintendent Paymon Rouhanifard said in an interview. Rouhanifard, who was appointed by Gov. Chris Christie in 2013, said the graduation rate has risen substantially, more children are enrolled in pre-K, and internal surveys show students feel safer in their schools.

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/16/08/18/some-improvement-seen-in-camden-schools-blip-or-new-beginning/

Meir Rinde | August 19, 2016

Philadelphia Inquirer--Bancroft Neurohealth secures $107M bond deal for move to Mount Laurel

Bancroft Neurohealth secures $107M bond deal for move to Mount Laurel

But it is only part of the tax-exempt organization's growth strategy, which also entails expanding its services and its reach into the community.

Toni Pergolin, Bancroft's chief executive, described the new school, which will be more than three times bigger than the current building, as a potential "destination for the autism community."

"We will be able to serve many more than just the Bancroft students," said Pergolin, mentioning kids on the autism spectrum who go to public school but might not participate in township sports leagues on weekends, for example.

"That's not always an area that is right for them," giving Bancroft the chance to offer such activities, Pergolin said.

Harold Brubaker, Staff Writer @InqBrubaker||Updated: August 18, 2016 — 1:08 AM EDT