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
GSCS Education Forum Stayed Focused on Quality Education
Quality education was the focus of the GSCS- NJ School Development Council Education Forum on November 12. Thanks to our talented and knowledgeable moderators, Tom Moran (Star Ledger editorial page editor and columnist, and John Mooney, NJ Spotlight founder and education writer) and to our top-notch panelists, the conversation at the forum stayed on track and was refreshing in that the talk remained on quality education issues. This was the GSCS hope & plan and we are rewarded that the plan worked. Feedback on the forum was extremely positive all the way around, now we need all to keep this conversation on the real issues going in real time at home, and in Trenton.

Please make sure you take the time to read the report on the Forum discussion immediately below. As always, we look forward to hearing from you for your input. FYI, it is our understanding that the legislature plans to delve into education reform in December. Be ready and Stay tuned...

In the Thick of It: 

In the Face of a Host of Challenges,

Staying Focused on Quality Education

Presented by the Garden State Coalition

of Schools &

The NJ School Development Council

Nov. 10, Douglass College Campus Center

 

They came to talk.   Sometimes they agreed.   Sometimes they had to agree to disagree.  And in one case they even agreed to continue the conversation on their own.  Butwhatever the topic, the seven panelists at the November 10th Education Forum came prepared to face the big issues in NJ education and present their organization's position.

 

And the over 130 parents, community members, school administrators and superintendents in attendance at the panel discussion-jointly presented by the Garden State Coalition of Schools and the NJ School Development Council-were there for a rare sit-down between a diverse group of school stakeholder representatives that also included a now-rare sit down of the NJEA and the Christie administration.

 

For their willingness to dive into these topics and their grace under fire, GSCS thanks Executive Directors Richard Bozza, NJASA; Marie Bilik, NJSBA; Brenda Considine, NJ Special Education Coalition; Carlos Perez, NJ Charter School Association; and Vincent Giordano, NJEA; as well as Gregg Edwards, policy director for the Christie administration and currently interim chief of staff at the Department of Education.  GSCS Executive Director Lynne Strickland rounded out the panel.

Our thanks also to moderators Tom Moran, Star Ledger editorial page editor and columnist, and John Mooney, NJ Spotlight founding editor and education writer, for sharing their insights and deftly keeping the conversation moving.

 

Starting the Dialog

 

GSCS called for a collaborative effort between Trenton leaders, the education community and the public to start real conversation that will elicit real information.  There was general agreement among the panelists that to maintain educational quality and success in NJ education, all stakeholders must work together and keep the conversation going.  Noting that there hasn't been enough discussion about the Governor's toolkit of proposed legislation for the public to know if it will help, Lynne Strickland called for immediate public discussions about school funding issues.

 

Also calling for more dialog and an in-depth look at education funding was the NJEA's Giordano, who repeated several times an open invitation to the Christie administration to sit down with his organization and talk.

 

Accountability and Tenure

 

In the discussion regarding accountability, Giordano declared his organization ready to discuss the two major complaints about tenure that he hears over and over:  that the teacher dismissal process takes too long and it's too expensive.  But he declared himself not willing to abandon the right of public employees facing dismissal to have due process.

 

The administration's Edwards pointed out that Governor Christie's reforms do not call for the elimination of tenure, but rather for basing teacher evaluation on performance.  Edwards feels that some teachers facing tenure lose out because

 

districts cannot afford to take a chance on inexperienced teachers who would benefit from a few more years before being evaluated for tenure.

 

After following up on this topic with Giordano during the program break, Marie Bilik announced that the NJEA and the NJSBA had agreed to immediately sit down together and start the tenure reform conversation.

 

Charter Schools a Hot Button Topic

 

A call for more public discussion on Charter Schools also came from panelists and the audience in the Question-&-Answer session.  The NJ Charter School Association's Perez noted that although the law calls for per-pupil funding to follow the child, 30% of this funding currently is staying with public school districts.  Saying that administrative costs are lower in Charter Schools, he explained that any funding cuts must therefore directly impact instruction and facilities.

 

Perez emphasized that Charters have a place in NJ education, even in well-performing districts, as they meet a different kind of need for smaller, creative programs.  And Charters must be able to prove their effectiveness and be accountable for their students' academic performance.

 

Lynne Strickand explained that GSCS, while supportive of Charter Schools in concept, is concerned that funding must be addressed because current law drains local property taxes away from public schools with no local control.   A process for authorizing and funding Charters must be collaboratively developed that will support communities, not pit people against each other.

 

Special Education

 

 

The Special Education Coalition's Considine declared that NJ is making policy decisions in a vacuum of information, that there is no data to support the outcomes promised from these decisions, and that published costs of special education do not compare the same things.  She called for the state to conduct a full study of all special education costs in a manner that compares apples to apples.  If all costs, including district tuition and transportation costs, were included, educators and Trenton decision makers would see that there are smarter ways to spend the limited amount of funding we have. 

 

GSCS' Strickland noted that special education funding continues to increase while revenue applied to general education is declining, that the pressures of the 2% cap will exacerbate this no-win situation, and that the state needs to acknowledge the growing gap and address it.

 

Other Highlights

 

· Edwards pointed out that the Governor is working within the confines of a very unforgiving Court decision.  While it's too soon to tell if a new formula can be introduced, the administration does hope to address some funding inequities in the current SFRA.

 

· As noted by all at the table, both Bilik and Bozza stressed the pending crisis facing public education as the 2% property tax levy cap goes into effect with little or no district surplus and no tools coming out of Trenton to help local communities cope.  And with local citizens not fully understanding what's coming, panelists called for Trenton to get its priorities in order and lead the dialog before school districts hit a proverbial brick wall.

 

· Other topics in the wide-ranging discussion included merit pay and evaluation, consolidation, the Charter School authorizer expansion bill and unfunded mandates.