Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

 
     5-1-12 Department of Education Release explains policy rationals for new rate methodology, federal requirements for revision of gradnuation rates
     4-11,12-12 p.m - Governor's Press Release re Priority, Focus and Rewards Schools Final list...PolitickerNJ and NJ Spotlight articles
     3-30-13 Education in the News - Dept of Education-State Budget, Autism Rates in NJ
     3-20-12 Education Issues in the News
     GSCS State Budget FY 2012-2013 Testimony
     2-29-12 NJTV on NJ School Funding...and, Reporters' Roundtable back on the aire
     2-26-12 State budget, School Elections, and Federal Grant funds for local reform initiatives
     2-24-12 Headlines from around NJ - from Google (hit on nj education-nj budget)
     2-23-12 Education in the News - Education reform noted in state budget message; Facebook grant to Newark teachers
     STATE AID DISTRICT LIST - PROPOSED for FY 2012-2013
     Education Funding Report on School Funding Reform Act (SFRA) issued 2-23-12
     Text of Gov. Christie's State Budget Message, given Feb. 21, 2012
     2-22-12 School Aid in State Budget Message - Is There a Devil in the Details
     2-21-12 State Budget Message for Fiscal Year 2012-2013
     1-24-12 Supreme Court Justices Nominated by Governor Christie
     1-17-12 Breaking News - Governor delivers State of the State Message, Signs 'November Vote' bill, A4394
     List of PRIORITY, FOCUS and REWARDS SCHOOLS per DOE Application on ESEA (NCLB) Waiver
     Education Transformation Task Force Initial Report...45 recommendations for starters
     9-12-11 Governor's Press Notice & Fact Sheet re: Education Transformation Task Force Report
     7-14-11 State GUIDANCE re: Using Additional State Aid as Property Tax Relief in this FY'12 Budget year.PDF
     7-14-11 DOE Guidance on Local Options for using Additional State School Aid in FY'12 State Budget.PDF
     FY'12 State School Aid District-by-District Listing, per Appropriations Act, released 110711
     7-12-11 pm District by District Listing of State Aid for FY'12 - Guidelines to be released later this week (xls)
     6-1-11 Supreme Court Justice nominee, Anne Paterson, passed muster with Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday by 11-1 margin
     4-26-11 School Elections, Randi Weingarten in NJ, Special Educ Aid, Shared Services bill
     4-25-11 Charter Schools in Suburbia: More Argument than Agreement
     4-24-11 Major Education Issues in the News
     4-21-11 Supreme Court hears school funding argument
     4-14-11 Governor Releases Legislation to Address Education Reform Package
     4-13-11 Governor's Proposed Legislation on Education Reform April 2011
     4-5-11 Education Issues in the News
     4-8-11 Education Issues in the News
     4-7-11 Gov. Christie - 'Addressing New Jersey's Most Pressing Education Challenges'
     4-7-11 Early news coverage & press releases - Governor's Brooking Inst. presentation on his education reform agenda
     4-3-11Press of Atlantic City - Pending Supreme Court ruling could boost aid to New Jersey schools
     4-2-11 The Record - Charter school in Hackensack among 58 bids
     4-1-11 N.J. gets 58 charter school applications
     3-30-11 Acting Commr Cerf talks to School Administrators about Gov's Education Reform agenda
     3-26-11 New Jersey’s school-funding battle could use a dose of reality
     Link to Special Master Judge Doyne's Recommendations on School Funding law to the Supreme Court 3-22-11
     3-22-11 Special Master's Report to the Supreme Court: State did not meet its school funding obligation
     GSCS 3-7-11Testimony on State Budget as Proposed by the Governor for FY'12 before the Senate Budget Committee
     3-4-11 'Teacher Evaluation Task Force Files Its Report'
     3-6-11 Poll: Tenure reform being positively received by the public
     Link to Teacher Evaluation Task Force Report
     GSCS Take on Governor's Budget Message
     Gov's Budget Message for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 Today, 2pm
     Tenure Reform - Video patch to Commissioner Cerf's presentation on 2-16-10
     2-16-11 Commissioner Cerf to introduce education reform plans...School construction...Speaker Oliver on vouchers
     2-16-11 Commissioner Cerf talks to educators on Tenure, Merit Pay , related reforms agenda
     9-23-10 Breaking News - Star Ledger ‘Facebook CEO Zuckerberg to donate $100M to Newark schools on Oprah Winfrey Show’
     1-7-11 Opinion: The Record - Doblin: ‘Students are collateral damage in Christie’s war’
     2-7-11Grassroots at Work in the Suburbs
     1-13-11 Supreme Court Appoints Special Master for remand Hearing
     1-20-11 GSCS Testimony before Senator Buono's Education Aid Impact hearing in Edison
     12-16-10 p,m. BREAKINGS NEWS: Christopher Cerf to be named NJ Education Commissioner
     GSCS Board of Trustees endorsed ACTION LETTER to Trenton asking for caution on Charter School expansion
     12-12-10 'Rash of upcoming superintendent retirements raises questions on Gov. Christie's pay cap'
     12-8-10 Education & Related Issues in the News - Tenure Reform, Sup't Salary Caps Reactions, Property Valuations Inflated
     12-7-10 Education Issues continue in the news
     12-6-10 njspotlight.com 'Christie to Name New Education Commissioner by Year End'
     12-5-10 New York Times 'A Bleak Budget Outlook for Public Broadcasters'
     12-5-10 Sunday News - Education-related Issues
     GSCS Education Forum Stayed Focused on Quality Education
     11-19-10 In the News - First Hearing held on Superintendent Salary Caps at Kean University
     11-15-10 GSCS meeting with Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver
     11-18-10 Superintendent Salary Caps to be publicly discussed tonight at Kean University
     Governor's Toolkit Summary - Updated November 2010
     10-8-10 Education Issue in the News
     9-29-10 Christie Education Reform proposals in The News
     9-15-10 'Governor Christie outlines cuts to N.J. workers' pension, benefits'
     9-1-10 Education in the News
     8-31-10 Latest development: Schunder's margin notes reveal application error
     8-27-10 later morning - breaking news: Statehouse Bureau ‘Gov. Chris Christie fires N.J. schools chief Bret Schundler’
     8-27-10 Star Ledger ‘U.S. officials refute Christie on attempt to fix Race to the Top application during presentation’
     8-25-10 Race to the Top articles - the 'day after' news analysis
     8-24-10 Race to the Top Award Recipients named
     8-23-10 S2208 (Sarlo-Allen prime sponsors) passes 36-0 (4 members 'not voting') in the Senate on 8-23-10
     8-18-10 Property Tax Cap v. Prior Negotiated Agreements a Big Problem for Schools and Communities
     8-16-10 Senate Education hears 'for discussion only' comments re expanding charter school authorization process; Commissioner Schundler relays education priorities to the Committee
     7-22-10 'Summer school falls victim to budget cuts in many suburban towns'
     7-21-10 List of bills in Governor's 'Toolkit'
     Governor's Toolkit bills listing
     7-16-10 GSCS Information & Comments - S29 Property Tax Cap Law and Proposal to Reduce Superintendent salaries ....
     7-15 & 16 -10 'Caps - PLURAL!' in the news
     7-12-10 Assembly passes S29 - the 2% cap bill - 73 to 4, with 3 not voting
     GSCS re:PropertyTax Cap bill - Exemption needed for Special Education enrollment costs
     7-8-10 Tax Caps, Education in the News
     GSCS:Tax Cap Exemption needed for Special Education Costs
     7-3-10 Governor Christie and Legislative leaders reached agreement today on a 2% property tax cap with 4 major exemptions
     7-1 and 2- 10 Governor Christie convened the Legislature to address property tax reform
     6-29-10 GSCS - The question remains: ? Whither property Tax Reform
     GSCS On the Scene in Trenton: State Budget poised to pass late Monday...Cap Proposals, Opportunity Scholarship Act in Limbo
     GSCS On the Scene in Trenton: Cap Proposals, Opportunity Scholarship Act in Limbo
     6-11-10 In the News: State Budget moving ahead on schedule
     6-10-10 Op-Ed in Trenton Times Sunday June 6 2010
     Recently proposed legislation S2043 brings back Last Best Offer (LBO) for school boards in negotiations
     6-8-10 Education issues in the news today - including 'hold' on pension reform, round two
     6-8-10 (posted) Education & Related Issues in the News
     6-4-10 Education News
     6-3-10 RTTT controversy remains top news - articles and editorials, column
     6-2-10 RACE TO THE TOP (RTTT) 'NJ STYLE': It is what it is ...but what exactly is it? Race to the Top application is caught in a crossfire of reports - more information and clarity is needed
     6-2-10 RACE TO THE TOP (RTTT) 'NJ STYLE' :It is what it is ...but what exactly is it? Race to the Top application is caught in a crossfire of reports - more information and clarity is needed.
     GSCS 'QUICK' THOUGHT - Will the Administration's reform legislation being introduced just this month- May - have a fair chance for productive debate and analysis
     5-11-10 njspotlight.com focuses on NJ's plans for and reactions to education reform
     ADMINISTRATION'S PLANS CITED FOR ROUND 2 - RACE TO THE TOP GRANT
     5-8 & 9-10 Education Reform Proposals Annoucned
     5-9-10 'Gov Christie to propose permanent caps on salary raises for public workers'
     5-3-10 Newsflash! Governor Christie makes NJ Supreme Court appointment
     Office on Legislative Services Analysis of Department of Educaiton - State Budget for FY'11
     4-23-10 Education issues remain headline news
     4-22-10 School Elections - in the News Today
     Hear about Governor Christie's noontime press conference tonight
     4-21-10 News on School Election Results
     4-21-10 Assoc. Press 'NJ voters reject majority of school budgets'
     4-18-10 Sunday Op-eds on school budget vote: Jim O'Neill & Gov Christie
     4-19-10 Lt. Gov. Guadagno's Red Tape Review Group initial Report released
     4-13-10 Commissioner Schundler before Senate Budget Committee - early reports....progress on budget election issue
     4-12-10 'Gov. urges voters to reject school districts' budgets without wage freezes for teachers'
     4-6-10 'Gov. Chris Chrisite extends dealdine for teacher salary concessions'
     4-2-10 'On Titanic, NJEA isn't King of the World'
     Administration's presentation on education school aid in its 'Budget in Brief' published with Governor Christie's Budget Message
     4-1-10 New Initiatives outlined to encourage wage freezes - reaction
     3-29-10 The Record and Asbury Park Press - Editorials
     3-26-10 GSCS: Effective & Well-Reasoned Communication with State Leaders is Critical
     3-23-10 GSCS Testimony presented to Senate Budget Committee on State Budget FY'11
     3-23-10 ' N.J. Gov. Chris Christie signs pension, benefits changes for state employees'
     3-21-10 Sunday News from Around the State - School Communities, School Budgets and State Budget Issues
     3-17-10 Budget News - Gov. Chris Christie proposes sacrifices
     3-16-10 Link to Budget in Brief publication
     3-15-10mid-day: 'Gov. Christie plans to cut NJ school aid by $800M'
     3-14-10 'Christie will propose constitutional amendment to cap tax hikes in N.J. budget'
     3-15-10 'N.J. taxpayers owe pension fund $45.8 billion' The Record
     3-11-10 'GOP vows tools to cut expenses, tighter caps'
     3-9-10 'NJ leaders face tough choices on budget'
     3-5-10 HomeTowne Video taping + interviews of GSCS Summit@Summit
     3-5-10 GSCS Summit@Summit with Bret Schundler to be lead topic on Hall Institute's weekly 2:30 pm podcast today
     3-4-10 'School aid cuts unavoidable during NJ budget crisis'
     3-3-10 'Public Education in N.J.: Acting NJ Comm of Educ Bret Schundler says 'Opportunity'
     Flyer: March 2 Education Summit Keynote Speaker - Education Commissioner Bret Schundler - Confirmed
     2-25-10 Gov. Christie's Red Tape Review Comm., chaired by Lt. Gov. Guadagno, to hold public hearings In March
     2-22-10 Christie and unions poised to do batttle over budget cuts'
     2-22-10 Trenton Active Today
     2-19-10 'Acting NJ education commissioner hoping other savings can ward off cuts'
     Flyer for March 2 Education 'Summit@Summit'
     2-16-10 'Christie Adopts Corzine Cuts, Then Some'
     2-14-10 'FAQ's on NJ's state of fiscal emergency declaration by Gov. Christie'
     2-12-10 Assembly Budget hearing posted for this Wednesday, Feb. 17
     FY2010 Budget Solutions - PRESS PACKET
     State Aid Memo (2-11-10) 2 pgs
     2-12-10 News Coverage: Governor Christie's message on actions to address current fiscal year state budget deficits
     2-11-10 Gov Christie address to Joint Session of the Legislature on state budget and current year aid reduction remains scheduled for today
     2-10-10 'Schools are likely targets for NJ budget cuts'
     2-9-10 News article posted this morning notes potential for large loss of current year school aid
     2-8-10 Northjersey.com editorial 'Tightenting our Belts'
     2-8-10'Gov Christie, lawmakers proporse sweeping pension, health care changes for public employees'
     2-2-10 GSCS BOARD TO MEET WITH COMMISSIONER BRET SCHUNDLER TODAY
     1-28-10 School Surplus plan to supplant State Aid in this year gaining probability
     Governor Christie's Education Team Transition Report
     Governor Christie Education Transition Team Report , released 1-22-10
     1-21-10'N.J.'s Christie won't rule out layoffs, furloughs to close unexpected $1.2B deficit'
     1-20-10 Editorials, Commentary on New Governor in Trenton
     1-19-10 Chris Christie - Inauguration Day
     1-18-10 Advance news on 'Christie as new Governor'
     1-14-10 'N.J. Gov.-elect Christie targets teachers' union with Schundler appointment'
     1-14-10 'To lead schools, Christie picks voucher advocate'
     1-13-10 More articles, plus Wikipedia information re New Education Commissioner, Bret Schundler
     1-13-10 Christie Press Conference reports
     1-13-10 Christie's New Commissioner of Education to be announced today - 12:30 Statehouse Press Conference
     1-13-10 New Commissioner of Education to be announced today - 12:30 Statehouse Press Conference
     1-12-10 Moving on...'Budget plan a wrinkle for districts'
     1-11-10 Transition News
     1-7-10 'N.J. Gov-elect Christie blast Democrats for lame-duck actions'
     12-27-09 'New Jersey competes for education reform stimulus money' (aka 'Race to the Top' funds)
     12-23-09 GSCS: Governor Corzine targets excess school surplus to replace state aid payments starting in Feb '10 - lame duck legislation anticipated
     12-15-09 GSCS is working with the Christie Transition Team
     12-12 & 13-09 Education Issues in the News
     12-11-09 'Gov.-elect Chris Christie's team got its signals crossed on education funding application'
     12-9-09 Governor-elect Christie talks more about his thougths for education
     12-5-09 'Once powerful teachers union faces tough times with Christie'
     12-3 Governor-Elect Chris Christie Announces Key Appointments
     12-3-09 'Gov.-elect Christie visits North Brunswick to talk with educators on district challenges'
     (12-8-09) GSCS Board of Trustees representatives to meet with Christie 'Red Tape' Group
     11-23-09 Governor-elect Christie names Transition Team Subcommittee members
     11-13-09 Chrisite's Budget Transition Team Annouced
     11-13-09 Education Week on: Gov-elect Christie's Education Agenda; Race to the Top Funds Rules
     11-12-09 Governor-elect Christie names his 10 member transition team
12-7-10 Education Issues continue in the news
The Star-Ledger ‘NJEA to reveal plans on teacher tenure system criticized by Gov. Christie’

NJEA Press Packet on Maintaining a Quality Workforce - Tenure Reform - Comparing the Current Tenure Statute and the NJEA Proposal

Star Ledger editorial board ‘N.J. loses another federal education grant’

Philadelphia Inquirer ‘Christie administration blames Corzine on charters’

 

The Star-Ledger ‘NJEA to reveal plans on teacher tenure system criticized by Gov. Christie’ 

Star Ledger editorial board ‘N.J. loses another federal education grant’

Philadelphia Inquirer ‘Christie administration blames Corzine on charters’

NJEA Press Packet on Maintaining a Quality Workforce - Tenure Reform - Comparing the Current Tenure Statute and the NJEA Proposal

___________________________________________________ 

The Star-Ledger  ‘NJEA to reveal plans on teacher tenure system criticized by Gov. Christie’

December 07, 2010, 8:34 AM  by Jeanette Rundquist

TRENTON -- The state's largest teachers union will unveil plans today to streamline the process for removing tenured teachers from the classroom, just days before the Senate Education Committee holds a hearing on tenure and its impact on public education.

Tenure, the job protection afforded to New Jersey educators after three years and one day on the job, has come under increasing fire from Gov. Chris Christie and some education advocacy groups.

Steve Wollmer, a spokesman for the New Jersey Education Association, said Monday that the union "will address the legal process for removing tenured teachers (and) make it more efficient," by proposing a system that would "take the judges out of the picture. " and use arbitration instead. He did not offer further details.

Tenure charge cases that get to the point of a hearing now go before an Administrative Law Judge, who makes a recommendation to the state education commissioner. The commissioner can uphold, overturn or modify the ruling.

The NJEA also plans to release a raft of other proposals, for things such as teacher-driven innovation and mentoring, and "set the record straight" about its commitment to education, Wollmer said.

"Our organization has taken a pretty bad rap over the past 10 months," he said. "We're going to set the record straight and get some ideas out there that really matter."

Other education advocacy groups have proposed extending the probationary period before a teacher gets tenure, or eliminating tenure entirely, in favor of renewable contracts, but Wollmer said that is not part of NJEA's proposal, which would require legislative approval.

"If you haven't figured out after three years if someone's a good teacher, another year isn't going to do it," he said. "The focus of our proposal is on the process and how its adjudicated. Our proposal directly addresses the time and cost, while maintaining the standard of fairness you have to have."

Tenure has become a hot-button issue in New Jersey this year, as Christie repeatedly has taken on the state's largest teachers' union.

The NJEA proposal comes just days before the Senate Education Committee is scheduled to hold a hearing Thursday on the subject. Representatives from the NJEA and state Department of Education, along with national experts, are among those expected to testify.

Separately, an "Educator Effectiveness" task force appointed by Christie is working to come up with a way to evaluate teachers and principals, and is to report to the governor by March 1.

Some education advocates said the NJEA's proposal was timed to beat the Senate hearing.

"I'm confident this is pre-emptive," said Derrell Bradford, executive director of Excellent Education for Everyone, and a member of the Christie task force.

"Given that the NJEA's tactics normally involve saying 'no,' it appears they think the best way to deal with change they can't stop is to get out in front of it. I don't see them proposing anything that substantively overhauls tenure."

Some experts say just taking about changing tenure represents movement.

"The type of hearing taking place on Thursday, you'd never have seen in the past," said Frank Belluscio, spokesman for the New Jersey School Boards Association. "It's been a real sacred cow."

The association supports eliminating the tenure system replacing it with contractual tenure, he said.

Another group, the Garden State Coalition of Schools, which represents about 100 suburban districts, wants to extend the tenure probationary period, or move to contracts.

"Three years is a tight timeline," said Lynne Strickland, the group's executive director. "It's fairer to the district to be given more time for in-depth evaluation and process, and often people say it's fairer to the teacher."

_____________________________________________________

 NJEA Press Packet (Released noon 12-7-10) on Maintaining a Quality Workforce - Tenure Reform - Comparing the Current Tenure Statute and the NJEA Proposal

The NJEA proposal would retain most of the current statute’s process for certifying dismissal charges against a tenured teacher for "inefficiency, incapacity, conduct unbecoming or other just cause."

Once charged, the employee has 15 days to file a statement and evidence with the Board of Education.

The BoE then has up to 45 days to certify charges and file them with the Commissioner of Education.

Once charges are certified, boards of education may suspend the employee without pay for up to 120 calendar days.

The employee has up 15 days from the BoE’s filing to file his/her answers to the charges.

Under the current statute, the Commissioner has 15 days to determine the sufficiency of charges, and another 10 days to transmit the case to the Office of Administrative Law.

Under the NJEA proposal, the Commissioner has 15 day to determine the sufficiency of charges, and another 10 days to refer the case to an Arbitrator.

Who is covered

Under the current statute, public school teachers, secretaries, and some custodians are covered. Under the NJEA proposal, all public school employees would be covered. The current three-year probationary period would remain in effect.

Timeline once case is sent to Administrative Law Judge/Arbitrator

Under the current statute, the process takes between 6-12 months or more to be adjudicated by an Administrative Law Judge, with a lengthy list of checkpoints to allow for additional discovery, disputes over sufficiency, and Commissioner’s final decision with respect to judge’s ruling.

Under the NJEA proposal, a hearing must be held within 60 days of the case being assigned to an arbitrator, and the arbitrator’s decision – which is final and binding – must be rendered within 30 days of the conclusion of the hearing, for a total of 90 days.

Choice of Arbitrators

Arbitrators will be American Arbitration Association (AAA/National Academy of Arbitrators)-certified. They will be selected from a list jointly created by NJEA and the New Jersey School Boards Association.

NEW JERSEY EDUCATION ASSOCIATION

__________________________________________________________________

Star Ledger ‘N.J. loses another federal education grant’

Star-Ledger Editorial Board  Published: Monday, December 06, 2010, 5:55 AM

It’s disheartening to hear that, yet again, New Jersey has lost out on millions in federal education dollars.

This time, it was for public charter schools. As Gov. Chris Christie seeks to greatly expand charters and his staffers sort through a record number of applications, our state just lost a $14 million competitive grant to fund the schools’ start-up costs.

That’s going to cripple any new charters, since our state already gives them less funding than regular district schools. This fumbled grant wasn’t as big a scandal as New Jersey’s botched Race to the Top application, in which we lost $400 million in federal education funds in part because a question was unanswered. But it does show a history of charter neglect in our state. Federal reviewers criticized New Jersey’s feeble capacity to oversee and evaluate charters, in particular 30 new ones planned over the next three years.

Blame for this does not lie solely on the Christie administration, as it did for Race to the Top. Our state also lost the charter grant in 2009, the final year of former Gov. Jon Corzine’s administration. New Jersey last won the grant money in 2006, but was forced to surrender some of it because it wasn’t opening charters fast enough.

The federal reviewers didn’t see much improvement over last year, when they rejected New Jersey because the decimated staff at the state Department of Education didn’t appear to have the capacity to distribute the grant money. There are now only five overworked employees in the DOE’s charter office, down from 16 nearly a decade ago.

And it’s still our only entity that can select, monitor or shut down New Jersey’s more than 70 charter schools.

New Jersey is one of just a handful of the 41 states with charters that still use the DOE as their sole authorizer.

The feds prefer to give their grant money to states that also allow school boards and universities to oversee charters.

Christie has been in office for a year already, and should have made developing the DOE’s charter school office a bigger priority. He needs to face reality and hire more staffers, because smaller government isn’t always better. Sometimes it’s just smaller.

But in other ways, the governor has improved the outlook for charters. He lent his support to needed reforms like a proposed bill that would permit universities like Rutgers to also authorize charter schools.

The clock is ticking to implement that law by next Spring, when we re-apply for this grant. Without better oversight, we’re just setting our charters up to fail.

Philadelphia Inquirer ‘Christie administration blames Corzine on charters’

By Rita Giordano, Inquirer Staff Writer

The Christie administration said Monday that New Jersey's failure to win a federal grant for charter school start-ups was the fault of a weak and understaffed state charter operation it inherited from Gov. Jon S. Corzine.

Democratic leaders criticized Gov. Christie last week after the state's failed bid for $14 million in education funds was made public by The Inquirer.

New Jersey's low-scoring application - combined with the Christie administration's unsuccessful effort to secure a $400 million federal Race to the Top education grant - indicates that education is not a priority for the governor, the lawmakers charged.

When asked about losing the grant, Christie spokesmen initially cited the governor's support of school choice and said efforts were being made to strengthen the charter program. The state plans to reapply for the grant, probably in the spring, according to state officials.

A week later, the administration ramped up its defense and blamed Christie's Democratic predecessor.

"We inherited an office [of charter schools] that was decimated," state education spokesman Alan Guenther said Monday.

The Corzine administration lost about $17 million in federal charter aid, Guenther said.

In 2009, during Corzine's tenure, New Jersey's application for about $13 million from the same start-up aid program was rejected, he said. A spokesman for the U.S. Department of Education confirmed that the application was denied.

In 2008-09, Guenther said, the state also was denied almost $4 million it was to have received in the third payout of a 2006 grant that would have totaled more than $10 million.

The reason, Guenther said, was that federal program officials said New Jersey was not opening enough charters or spending the money it was given fast enough.

New Jersey got only $100 that year, according to state records.

The state was awarded charter start-up grants, which usually cover three-year periods, three times before 2006. The federal program was launched in the mid-1990s.

Assembly Education Committee Chairman Patrick J. Diegnan Jr. (D., Middlesex) said again Monday that he wants acting Education Commissioner Rochelle Hendricks to speak to his committee about what went wrong with the state's application.

Hendricks was asked to appear Thursday but may not be available, Diegnan said.

New Jersey received 61.3 percent of the possible points on its losing grant application. The 12 states that won grants scored between 67 percent and 85.7 percent. The state lost points in every category, including those about its charter management and monitoring plans.

It is "unacceptable" to blame the previous administration for this year's failure, Diegnan said. The state learned over the summer that it had lost out on the charter money.

"It's getting a little old at this point to continue to blame the Corzine administration for everything that goes wrong for the Christie administration," he said.

Diegnan said he read the comments of the application's peer reviewers and found their references to basic lacks in the application "disturbing." The administration should have learned from the unsuccessful 2009 application, he said.

"Clearly, the ball was dropped," Diegnan said.

Guenther said that the state charter school office was woefully undermanned when Christie became governor. "The level of neglect . . . was profound," he said.

In 2001, the office had a staff of 16 to administer 45 schools, Guenther said. When Christie took over, he said, four staff members oversaw 67 schools.

A fifth person recently was hired for the charter office, and about a half-dozen other employees have pitched in to help handle the workload for what is now 73 schools, he said.

The Education Department has requested that the National Association of Charter School Authorizers do a study, now under way, on how the state can improve its charter program, Guenther said. The state is also working on creating a mentoring project to help new and existing charters.

"We will continue to improve and upgrade the office," he said.

Had the grant application been successful, the money would have benefited some of the record 50 charter schools seeking state approval next month. Typically in New Jersey, new charters have received about $150,000 in start-up money from the federal grant program.

The state will use about $148,000 left from its previous grant to help newly opening charters that have already been approved, said Guenther and other New Jersey education officials. The seven schools each will get about $20,000, Guenther said


Contact staff writer Rita Giordano at 856-779-3841 or rgiordano@phillynews.com.

Read more: http://www.philly.com/inquirer/front_page/20101207_Christie_administration_blames_Corzine_on_charters.html?viewAll=y#ixzz17RdZ6Jil