Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

3-29-18 Education in the News

NJ Spotlight--Pleas for Increases in State Aid as Murphy’s Budget Gets Its First Close-Up

ALS patient appeals for more assistance while it’s clear school funding will once again be the crux of the matter for lawmakers

Burlington County resident John Russo, with some assistance from his wife, Loretta, leaned into a microphone yesterday and urged lawmakers to boost a state grant that helps family members care for people like him who suffer from the debilitating neurogenerative disease ALS.

The current state budget provides $250,000 to the ALS Association for family-care services, and advocates are seeking an increase to $500,000 in the spending plan for the 2019 fiscal year.

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/18/03/28/pleas-for-increases-in-state-aid-as-murphy-s-budget-gets-its-first-close-up/

John Reitmeyer | March 29, 2018

 

NJ Spotlight--Opinion: Federal Aid to New Jersey Is Secure

Despite draconian cuts originally proposed in the president's budget, Congress made more rational decisions and provided hefty increases in discretionary spending

The New Jersey state government received $14.6 billion in federal aid in fiscal year 2017 and expects to receive $15.1 billion in the current year. The governor’s fiscal 2019 budget proposal assumes New Jersey will receive $15.6 billion — an increase of $ 1 billion over actual receipts in fiscal 2017 — and maybe more, depending on how funds for the train tunnel are finally negotiated. The estimates are pretty secure as the federal budget signed by the president was quite generous.

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/18/03/28/opinion-federal-aid-to-new-jersey-is-secure/

Richard F. Keevey | March 29, 2018

 

Trenton Times--Unlike in other states, N.J. schools don't ignore the arts | Editorial

When school budgets are tight - and when aren't they tight? - what's the first curriculum item to go out the window?

For way too long, it's been art education.

But a new report assessing the state of art education in New Jersey has some encouraging words for teachers, administrators and parents who believe taking a chunk out of the school day to talk about the arts creates a more well-rounded and more intelligent student.

Arts Ed NJ conducted a census of school districts throughout the state that found the Garden State is performing well in this area.

http://www.nj.com/opinion/index.ssf/2018/03/unlike_in_other_states_nj_schools_dont_ignore_the.html#incart_river_index

Times of Trenton Editorial Board Updated Mar 28, 7:50 PM; Posted Mar 28, 7:50 PM

 

Education Week—Editorial: Dear Betsy DeVos, Don't Bring Back Discrimination in School Discipline

Repealing Obama-era disciplinary guidance won’t make schools safer, just more unequal

Following the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School mass shooting, courageous and inspiring students around the country are demanding action, refusing to believe that we can do nothing to stem America’s gun violence epidemic. In stark contrast, U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos has responded with plans to chair a new task force on school safety that will, among other things, consider the wholly nonresponsive goal of repealing Obama-era discipline guidance.

The departments of Justice and Education, whose civil rights units we had the privilege to lead during the Obama administration, crafted the 2014 guidance documents that are now under attack. Intended to help schools serve students more effectively, the guidance explains long-standing federal law prohibiting racial discrimination in school discipline and concretely outlines how schools can satisfy this law while maintaining classroom peace.

https://www.edweek.org/ew/articles/2018/03/27/dear-betsy-devos-dont-bring-back-discrimination.html

Vanita Gupta & Catherine E. Lhamon| March 27, 2018

 

Star Ledger--Have New Jersey's pension woes finally bottomed out?

Could it be true? Is New Jersey's pension fund for public workers -- among the worst-funded in the nation -- really be on the road to recovery?

That's what a consultant's analysis of the state's investment strategy suggests. 

The report to the State Investment Council on Wednesday said the pension fund for nearly 800,000 public and retired workers may have some more trouble in the short term but will come up smelling like roses decades from now. 

http://www.nj.com/politics/index.ssf/2018/03/have_new_jerseys_pension_woes_finally_bottomed_out.html

Samantha Marcus| Updated 6:48 AM; Posted 6:45 AM