Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

 
     3-30-13 Education in the News - Dept of Education-State Budget, Autism Rates in NJ
     3-20-12 Education Issues in the News
     3-6-12Tenure Reform News - Discussion at Senate Education Committee
     2-23-12 State Aid Figures Released late today: GSCS Statement
     2-29-12 NJTV on NJ School Funding...and, Reporters' Roundtable back on the aire
     S1455 Ruiz TEACHNJ Act, introduced February 2012
     S1455 Ruiz TEACHNJ Act
     November Elections for Schools - Department of Education FAQ's
     1-18-12 GSCS ‘Take’ on the School Elections Law
     1-24-12 Education Issues in the News
     1-24-12 Supreme Court Justices Nominated by Governor Christie
     Committe Assignments for 2012-2013 under the new 215th Legislature rolling out
     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
     Democrat Budget Proposal per S4000, for Fiscal Year 2011-2012
     Additional School Aid [if the school funding formula,SFRA, were fully funded for all districts] per Millionaires' Tax bill S2969
     6-24-11 Democrat Budget Proposal brings aid to all districts
     6-1-11 Supreme Court Justice nominee, Anne Paterson, passed muster with Senate Judiciary Committee yesterday by 11-1 margin
     4-29-11 BOOMERANG! Near 80 per cent of School Budgets Passed in Wednesday'sSchool Elections
     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'
     4-3-11Press 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
     3-31-11 Charters an Issue in the Suburbs - and - So far, only 7 Separate Questions on April School Budget Ballots
     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 - Local District Listing : Local Funds Transferred to Charter Schools 2001-2010
     GSCS Bar Chart: Statewide Special Education cost percent compared to Regular & Other Instructional cost percent 2004-2011
     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 talks to educators on Tenure, Merit Pay , related reforms agenda
     Assembly Education Committee hearing Feb 2-10-11
     Assembly Education Committee hearing today, Feb 10, 2011
     9-12-10 ‘Schools coping, in spite of steep cuts'
     12-10-10 ‘NJN could get funding to stay on air as lawmakers weigh network's fate’
     2-7-11 Education - and Controversy - in the News
     1-25-11 Education in the News
     1-24-11 GSCSS Testimony before Assembly Education Committee: Charter School Reform
     1-24-11 GSCS Testimony on Charter School Reform before Assembly Eduction Committee today
     1-20-11 GSCS Testimony before Senator Buono's Education Aid Impact hearing in Edison
     Assembly Education Hearing on Charter School Reform Monday, 1-24-11, 1 pm
     GSCS Board of Trustees endorsed ACTION LETTER to Trenton asking for caution on Charter School expansion
     GSCS testimony on Tenure Reform - Senate Education Committee 12-09-10
     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 Sunday News - Education-related Issues
     11-19-10 In the News - First Hearing held on Superintendent Salary Caps at Kean University
     11-19-10 NJ Spotlight reports on 'National Report Card (NAEP) Rates NJ Schools'
     11-15-10 GSCS meeting with Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver
     GSCS Education Forum Stayed Focused on Quality Education
     Governor's Toolkit Summary - Updated November 2010
     11-18-10 Superintendent Salary Caps to be publicly discussed tonight at Kean University
     10-8-10 Education Issue in the News
     9-15-10 'Governor Christie outlines cuts to N.J. workers' pension, benefits'
     GSCS Heads Up - County-wide school district governance legislation getting ready to move
     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
     8-16-10 Senate Education hears 'for discussion only' comments re expanding charter school authorization process; Commissioner Schundler relays education priorities to the Committee
     8-13-10 East Brunswick Public School seeks stay on Hatikvah Charter School opening this fall (re: Hatikvah not meeting minimum enrollment requirement)
     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
     7-18-10 Troublesome sign of the times? Read article on the growing trend for education foundations - the pressure to provide what the state no longer supports for education...California's Proposition 13 cited
     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
     GSCS - High costs of Special Education must be addressed asap, & appropriately
     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
     6-25-10 Appropriations Act bills for Fiscal Year 2010-2011 available on NJ Legislature website - here are the links
     6-23-10 Trenton News: State Budget on the move...Education Issues
     On the GSCS Radar Screen: Recently proposed (early June '10) legislation S2043 brings back Last Best Offer (LBO) for school boards in negotiations
     On the GSCS RADAR SCREEN S2021 (June '10) sponsored by Senator Tom Kean
     On the GSCS Radar Screen: 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
     On the GSCS Legislative Radar Screen
     6-4-10 S1762 passed unanmiously out of Senate Education Committee yesterday
     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
     Senate Education Committee Agenda for 6-3-10
     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 NY Times 'Despite Push, Success at Charter Schools is Mixed
     3-30-10 Race to the Top winners helped by local buy-in
     3-31-10 What's Going on in Local Districts?
     3-26-10 GSCS: Effective & Well-Reasoned Communication with State Leaders is Critical
     3-26-10 School Aid, Budget Shortfall - Impt Related Issues = Front Page News
     3-25-10 NEW PENSION REFORM LAW - INFORMATION
     FAQ's on Pension Reform bills signed into law March 22, 2010
     3-23-10 GSCS Testimony presented to Senate Budget Committee on State Budget FY'11
     3-21-10 Reform bills up for a vote in the Assembly on Monday, March 22
     3-11-10 'GOP vows tools to cut expenses, tighter caps'
     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
     2-26-10 'NJ average property taxes grow 3.3 percent to an average of $7,300'
     2-25-10 Gov. Christie's Red Tape Review Comm., chaired by Lt. Gov. Guadagno, to hold public hearings In March
     2-24-10 Pension Reform bills to be introduced in Assembly this Thursday
     2-24-10 'Tight funds raise class sizes that districts long sought to cut'
     2-22-10 Christie and unions poised to do batttle over budget cuts'
     2-19-10 'Acting NJ education commissioner hoping other savings can ward off cuts'
     2-22-10 Trenton Active Today
     Flyer for March 2 Education 'Summit@Summit'
     MARK YOUR CALENDARS! GSCS GENERAL MEMBERSHIP-STATEWIDE MEETING 'THE SUMMIT AT SUMMIT', TUESDAY MARCH 2, 7:30 p.m., Details to follow
     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
     School Aid Withheld Spreadsheet
     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 'School leaders around N.J. wait and worry over state aid figures'
     2-8-10'Gov Christie, lawmakers proporse sweeping pension, health care changes for public employees'
     2-4-10 'Christie advisers call for tough new school rules'
     1-28-10 School Surplus plan to supplant State Aid in this year gaining probability
     Governor Christie Education Transition Team Report , released 1-22-10
     1-22-10 "N.J. poll finds support for easier teach dismissal, merit pay'
     1-20-10 'N.J. files application for federal Race to the Top education money'
     1-20-10 Editorials, Commentary on New Governor in Trenton
     1-18-10 Advance news on 'Christie as new Governor'
     GSCS to speak at Tri-District 'Open' meeting in Monmouth on January 27
     1-15-10 Education News-Race to the Top incentives, NCLB annual results, supermajority vote upheld
     1-14-10 'N.J. Gov.-elect Christie targets teachers' union with Schundler appointment'
     1-14-10 'To lead schools, Christie picks voucher advocate'
     1-12-10 Lame Duck Session is over
     1-11-10 Transition News
     1-10-10 'Educators say consolidating school districts doesn't add up'
     1-8-10 Of Note for schools - from Lame Duck session yesterday, 1-7-10
     1-6-10 Race to the Top Plans on the move, not without conflict
     1-6-10 Lame Duck Legislative Calendar Updated
     12-31-09 Commissioner invites chief school administrators to Race to the Top meeting
     1-5-10 GSCS: Update on January 4 Lame Duck Session & State School Aid Proposal
     1-5-10 Lame Duck Legislative Calendar through January 12th
     1-5-10 Update on January 4 Lame Duck Session
     12-23-09 Gannett article provides details on Gov. Corzine's proposal to use additional surplus in place of state aid
     12-23-09 GSCS: Governor Corzine targets excess school surplus to replace state aid payments starting in Feb '10 - lame duck legislation anticipated
     1-4-10 Legislative Calendar through January 12th
     1-4-10 Assembly Education Committee Agenda
     12-30-09 January 4th Senate Quorum -Committee Schedule (Assembly not yet public information)
     January 2010 Lame Duck Legislative Schedule
     12-15-09 Also on the GSCS Radar Screen
     12-15-09 On the GSCS Radar Screen: S2850 poised for a vote
     11-17-09 Politickernj's 'Inside Edge' on Possible Education Committee Chairs
     11-19-09 GSCS HEADS UP: Prevailing Wage bills on 'lame duck fast track' to be heard on 11-23-09
     11-13-09 Education Week on: Gov-elect Christie's Education Agenda; Race to the Top Funds Rules
     11-12-09 p.m. Lame Duck Schedule Announced
     10-26-09 'High school sports spending grows as budgets get tighter inNew Jersey'
     10-2009 On the GSCS Radar Screen
     10-1-09 Education Week on Acheivement Gap narrowing; Algebra Testing
     10-1-09 Information on S2850 Prevailing Wage bill - food service workers included
     9-29-09 My Central NJ article on merging v home rule struggle
     GSCS Report on its Annual Meeting June 2009
     9-27-09 Education News of Note
     9-23-09 'Tests changing for special ed students'
     9-13-09 As an issue for N.J.(Gubernatorial election), schools are in'
     8-10-09 News of Note
     8-7-09 'Bill would strengthen teacher tenure rights'
     7-14-09 Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial
     6-26-09 Floor Amendment to A1489 re Extracurricular fees
     6-26-09 Executive Director to GSCS Trustees; Wrap Up Report - State Budget and Assembly bills this week
     6-26-09 Education Issues in the News
     6-23-09 A4141 & S3000 clarifies how to eliminate Non-Operating school districts
     6-23-09 Grassroots at Work re A4140, A4142 and A1489
     6-23-09 Press of Atlantic City on Assembly Education hearing yestserday
     6-22-09 Assembly Education moves bills out of committee
     6-22-09 GSCS Testimony A1489, A4140, A4142
     6-22-09 Bills A4140, 4142, and A1489
     6-21-09 Assembly Education hearing for 6-22 9 am
     6-15-09 GSCS Testifies on its concerns re S2850
     6-11-09 GSCS - it sometimes defies logic
     4-5-09 The Record, Sunday April 5, Front Page Opinion
     4-5-09 A new approach to an old math problem'
     12-28-08 NY Times 'Pension Fight Signals What Lies Ahead'
     12-29-08 NJ to new leaders - Fund our schools
     12-21-08 GSCS EMAILNET - Excerpts
     11-25-08 Perspective piece criticizes recent Supreme Court Abbott decision
     11-24-08 Editorial asks for preschool initiative slow down
     11-23-08 'State lacks financial incentives to sell concept of school mergers'
     11-4-08 NCLB early test results
     10-6-08 D.O.E. October Workshops on Transforming High Schools
     10-6-08 October Workshops on Tranforming High Schools
     GSCS, Special Education Coalition for Funding Reform, and Rutgers Institute co-sponsor Forum Oct 7th
     10-8-08 GSCS spotlights preschool expansion implementation issues as a prioirty
     9-30-08 Senate Education Committee meets 10-2-08
     9-24-08 Editorials re High School Redesign issues
     9-24-08 Commissioner of Education at Assembly Education Committee yesterday
     9-24-08 Supreme Court hearing on constitutionality of School Funding Reform Act
     9-17-08 HIGH SCHOOL 'REDESIGN' PLAN TO BE DISCUSSED AT STATE BOARD OF ED TODAY
     SAVE THE DATE - OCT. 7TH
     6-17-08 School bills passed in Assembly yesterday
     6-13-08 News on Education Committee actions yesterday in Trenton
     4-07 The CORE bill 'A4' in its entirety
     5-15-08 Bills A10 and A15 already posted for a vote in the Assembly this Monday 5-19-08
     9-20-07 New Jersey School Boards Assoc. Releases its Report on Special Education
     9-20-07 With eyes on the future, justices look back at Abbott
     7-31-07 EMAILNET Status of School Funding Formula, more
     Public Education Institute Forum 9-19-07
     Recent education Research articles of note from Public Educ Network
     APRIL '07 MOODY's OUTLOOK ON SCHOOLS -NEGATIVE
     8-9-06 Special Session Jt Comm on Consolidation of Govt Services meeting 8-8-06
     8-2-06 Special Session 4 committees description
     8-2-06 Legislature's descriptoin of Jt Comm on School Funding Reform
     7--31-06 Legislature appoints Joint Committees on Property Tax Reform
     7-29-06 School Funding formula draws mixed reactions
     7-28-06 Gov to legislature: make history, cut taxes
     7-27-06 Trenton begins its move to address property taxes
     7-25-06 Associated Press Prop Tax Q & A
     7-19-06 Ledger -Advocates sue for release of report on school funding
     7-16-06 (thru 7-21-06) Bergen Record series investigate cost of NJ public services & property tax link
     7-18-06 Live from the Ledger
     7-18-06 Education Law Center takes state to court over funding study
     7-18-07 Star Ledger on high taxes & quality education in one town
     7-16-06 Bergen Record series investigate cost of NJ public services & property tax link
     7-14-06 EMAILNET
     7-13-06 Articles - Property tax issues, teacher salaries, voucher suit filing
     7-12-06 Statehouse starts talking specifics about property tax reform
     7-11-06 Talk of Special Session on Property Tax Reform
     6-15-06 Star Ledger, Gannet articles- Abbott advocates demand school reform at educ. dept
     A54 Roberts - Revises title and duties of county supterintendent
     Status of Senate bills related to SCI report
     6-12-06 EMAILNET - Extraordinary Special Education student aid; FY07 Budget 'crunch' is on; news clips
     6-6-06 Legislative Leaders announce initial plans for property tax reform
     S1546 Moves School Elections - GSCS Position
     Representative GSCSTestimonies
     Funding Coalition submits paper 'Beginning Discussions on School Funding Reform'
     Find Your Legislator
     5-14-06N Y Times 'For school budgets the new word is NO'
     Assembly Speaker Roberts proposes 'CORE' plan for schools & towns
     AR168 WatsonColeman-Stanley
     5-16-06 EMAILNET Action in Trenton
     5-10-06 A Lot is going on - Major News fromTrenton
     5-9-06 Supreme Ct freezes aid & Asm Budget Comm grills DOE Commissioner
     4-21-06 School budget election fallout - politicians & press comment
     3-28-06 GSCS testimony before Assembly Budget Comm today
     4-17-06 EMAILNET
     4-8-07 Corzine Administration files brief with Supreme Court re Abbott funding
     4-16-06 Star Ledger editorial & article re Gov v. Abbott from 4-15-06
     3-28-06 GSCS testimony before Assembly Budget Comm
     Legislative Calendar during State Budget FY07 process
     3-24-06 Schools learn who wins, loses in Corzine budget
     3-10-06 Star Ledger 'Time is ripe for poorer districts to contribute.
     2-22-06 New York Times NCLB - 20 states ask for flexibility
     2-1-06 EMAILNET GSCS Advocacy FY07 Budget; On the Homepage Today
     Governor Corzine's Transition Team Reports
     1-25-06 Star Ledger 'School District's Woes Point to Rising Tax Resistance'
     1-19-06 EMAILNET Quick Facts, On the Homepage Today
     The Record7-10-05 Sunday Front Page Must Read
     GSCS submission to Governor Corzine's Education Policy Transiton Team
     1-15-06 The Record 2 Sunday Articles anticipating top issues confronting the Corzine administration
     1-15-06 Sunday Star Ledger front page on Property Taxes
     1-12-06 Star Ledger 'Lawmaker pushes tax relief plan'
     12-14-05 Asbury ParkPress Editorial 'Re-assess the ABC's of School Funding' notes the Governor's role is critical in making positive change occur
     Star Ledger 6-17-06 Seniors call for Tax Convention Senate Prefers Special Session
     Activists Hope to Revive School Funding Issue
     December 2005 Harvard Famiily Research Project Links
     12-5-05 Governor-elect Corzine selects policy advisory groups
     EMAILNET 12-3-05 Heads Up!
     YOU ARE INVITED - GSCS Invitation: Members and friends of education are invited to a December 7 Symposium on School Funding 'It's Time to get off the Dime - Pitfalls, Priorities and Potential'
     10-19-05 Courier Post-Gannett article on Gubernatorial Debate
     11-1-05 EMAILNET More information on Gubernatorial Candidates
     Lameduck Legislative Calendar November 10 2005 - January 9, 2006
     11-9-05 8 a.m. Election November 8 2005 information
     11-8-05 EMAILNET You are invited to Dec & Symposium on School Funding
     10-14-05 EMAILNET Parent question for Gubernatorial Candidates aired on 101.5 debate, SCC funds, Next Board meeting, press briefing notes
     November 8 2005 YOUR VOTE TODAY COUNTS ... Some news articles worth reading
     Education Law Center Issues Guildlines for Abbot School Districts
     10-16-05 Sunday Star Ledger & Gannet news articles on gubernatorial candidates take on important issues related to public education issues
     10-5-05 PRESS BRIEFING ON SCHOOL AID & FUNDING SPONSORED by Ad Hoc School Finance Discussion Group, GSCS is participant...10-6-05 ASbury Park Press (Gannett) & Press of Atlantic City articles
     Proposed State Budget for Fiscal Year 2006 - GSCS Testimony
     GSCS Testimony before Constitutional Convention Task Force
     NCLB
8-31-10 Latest development: Schunder's margin notes reveal application error
(GSCS Take: Schools are beginning a new year. Let's meet the promise of the classroom with a sense of renewal, with the positive sense of optimism that NJ can move beyond the handwringing stage of controversy...Let's move on to getting New Jersey back on track with quality public education and outstanding issues that need to be addressed now, starting with how and how soon the $268M in federal aid will be distributed to school districts; when the toolkit will start to move through the legislature to help offset the reality of the 2% cap v. fixed costs beyond local district control; legislative waiver consideration for special education costs, and more...)

The Record ‘Fired education chief Schundler says his error cost N.J. Race to the Top grant’



Njspotlight.com ‘Role of Consultant Comes to Light as Schundler Admits Error’



Star Ledger, ‘Fired N.J. education chief Bret Schundler says he made 'Race to the Top' error’


Philadelphia Inquirer ‘Schundler: 'This was my error'


Asbury Park Press ‘Schundler firing was warranted’


The Record ‘Fired education chief Schundler says his error cost N.J. Race to the Top grant’

 

Njspotlight.com ‘Role of Consultant Comes to Light as Schundler Admits Error’

 

Star Ledger, ‘Fired N.J. education chief Bret Schundler says he made 'Race to the Top' error’

Philadelphia Inquirer ‘Schundler: 'This was my error'

Asbury Park Press ‘Schundler firing was warranted’

 

 

The Record ‘Fired education chief Schundler says his error cost N.J. Race to the Top grant’

Monday, August 30, 2010
Last updated: Tuesday August 31, 2010, 7:06 AM

BY LESLIE BRODY

The Record

Bret Schundler, who was fired Friday as education commissioner, said he learned Monday that he personally made the budget data error that helped the state miss out on a $400 million federal grant for school reform.

Schundler said one member of a team of consultants hired to help with the Race to the Top application found the former commissioner’s handwritten scribbles on a draft, on which he crossed out the 2008-09 budget data that were supposed to be included in the grant application.

“It’s appalling to me that I could have made such an error,” he said Monday. “We didn’t catch it.”

The consultant, Wireless Generation, was paid $179,750 to help develop New Jersey’s application. The contract promised that the firm would be “responsible for the quality, technical accuracy and timely completion” of the proposal.

Schundler’s scribbles solved one of the mysteries in an unfolding drama that has riveted the education world and outraged taxpayers who wished the state had the grants for school reform. Governor Christie fired Schundler on Friday, charging that the commissioner made misleading statements to him about whether he gave contest judges in Washington, D.C., the correct budget answer.

Schundler insisted Friday and again Monday that he did not hide anything from the governor.

“He terminated me saying I had not told him what happened at the interview and that is not true,” Schundler said Monday. “It hurt me to have him suggesting that I gave him false information.”

Schundler has repeatedly said he told the governor he did not supply the exact funding figures at the Washington presentation.

The governor’s office has not bought Schundler’s defense. On Friday, it issued a press release saying Schundler “continues to sully his own image by engaging in revisionist history.”

On Monday, Schundler called that press release “atrocious.” He also said that he has never discussed his dismissal with Christie. He said he got a cellphone message from the governor Thursday night telling him to call Christie’s chief of staff, who asked him to resign.

Schundler said he asked to be terminated so he could get unemployment benefits.

New Jersey lost the high-stakes contest by three points out of 500. It lost five points for failing to provide budget data for 2008-09.

Schundler had said Friday that the missing information was in a May 26 draft of the proposal circulating among department staffers, attorneys general and the consultant’s team for review, but that it was unclear how the budget data fell out of the draft. Schundler said Monday that he was “disappointed” to learn the mistake was his own.

The Wireless Generation contract says the company would provide “planning, communication, writing and advisory services” for the second round of the Race to the Top competition. The $179,750 fee was for its work by at least four full-time staffers in May and June, and the no-bid contract followed a previous contract for work in December and January for the first round of the competition.

Schundler said it made sense to hire the same team that handled the first round because it knew the material.

Andrea Reibel, spokeswoman for Wireless Generation, would not comment on the contract’s declaration that the company was responsible for the accuracy of the application. She e-mailed that “Wireless Generation provided planning and advisory services to the New Jersey Department of Education in support of its Race to the Top application. At this point, any questions about the state’s application should be addressed to the New Jersey Department of Education.”

Maria Comella, a spokeswoman for the governor, would not comment on Wireless Generation’s role in the process and proofreading.

“I don’t think we have anything further to say on this,” Comella said. “The governor was pretty clear at the press conference [Wednesday] that he didn’t blame any one person for the error.”

The June proposal was revamped quickly over Memorial Day weekend after Christie threw out the first draft, saying Schundler had compromised too much with the New Jersey Education Association. The application lost points for lack of union buy-in.

Schundler said Mondaythat the “very tight time frame” may have contributed to the error.

E-mail: brody@northjersey.co
 

Bret Schundler, who was fired Friday as education commissioner, said he learned Monday that he personally made the budget data error that helped the state miss out on a $400 million federal grant for school reform.

Schundler said one member of a team of consultants hired to help with the Race to the Top application found the former commissioner’s handwritten scribbles on a draft, on which he crossed out the 2008-09 budget data that were supposed to be included in the grant application.

“It’s appalling to me that I could have made such an error,” he said Monday. “We didn’t catch it.”

The consultant, Wireless Generation, was paid $179,750 to help develop New Jersey’s application. The contract promised that the firm would be “responsible for the quality, technical accuracy and timely completion” of the proposal.

Schundler’s scribbles solved one of the mysteries in an unfolding drama that has riveted the education world and outraged taxpayers who wished the state had the grants for school reform. Governor Christie fired Schundler on Friday, charging that the commissioner made misleading statements to him about whether he gave contest judges in Washington, D.C., the correct budget answer.

Schundler insisted Friday and again Monday that he did not hide anything from the governor.

“He terminated me saying I had not told him what happened at the interview and that is not true,” Schundler said Monday. “It hurt me to have him suggesting that I gave him false information.”

Schundler has repeatedly said he told the governor he did not supply the exact funding figures at the Washington presentation.

The governor’s office has not bought Schundler’s defense. On Friday, it issued a press release saying Schundler “continues to sully his own image by engaging in revisionist history.”

On Monday, Schundler called that press release “atrocious.” He also said that he has never discussed his dismissal with Christie. He said he got a cellphone message from the governor Thursday night telling him to call Christie’s chief of staff, who asked him to resign.

Schundler said he asked to be terminated so he could get unemployment benefits.

New Jersey lost the high-stakes contest by three points out of 500. It lost five points for failing to provide budget data for 2008-09.

Schundler had said Friday that the missing information was in a May 26 draft of the proposal circulating among department staffers, attorneys general and the consultant’s team for review, but that it was unclear how the budget data fell out of the draft. Schundler said Monday that he was “disappointed” to learn the mistake was his own.

The Wireless Generation contract says the company would provide “planning, communication, writing and advisory services” for the second round of the Race to the Top competition. The $179,750 fee was for its work by at least four full-time staffers in May and June, and the no-bid contract followed a previous contract for work in December and January for the first round of the competition.

Schundler said it made sense to hire the same team that handled the first round because it knew the material.

Andrea Reibel, spokeswoman for Wireless Generation, would not comment on the contract’s declaration that the company was responsible for the accuracy of the application. She e-mailed that “Wireless Generation provided planning and advisory services to the New Jersey Department of Education in support of its Race to the Top application. At this point, any questions about the state’s application should be addressed to the New Jersey Department of Education.”

Maria Comella, a spokeswoman for the governor, would not comment on Wireless Generation’s role in the process and proofreading.

“I don’t think we have anything further to say on this,” Comella said. “The governor was pretty clear at the press conference [Wednesday] that he didn’t blame any one person for the error.”

The June proposal was revamped quickly over Memorial Day weekend after Christie threw out the first draft, saying Schundler had compromised too much with the New Jersey Education Association. The application lost points for lack of union buy-in.

Schundler said Mondaythat the “very tight time frame” may have contributed to the error.

E-mail: brody@northjersey.co

Njspotlight.com ‘Role of Consultant Comes to Light as Schundler Admits Error’ Brooklyn education technology firm hired to help Race to the Top application also overlooked crucial mistake

 

By John Mooney, August 31 in Education  

New Jersey’s doomed Race to the Top application that led to the ouster of the state’s education commissioner last week had another quiet hand involved: a Brooklyn consultant that was paid nearly $180,000 to assist in the bid.

According to public records obtained by NJ Spotlight, Wireless Generation Inc. also worked on the state’s first Race to the Top application last winter under a separate but similar contract. That bid also fell short in the first round of the federal competition, in which states applied for more than $4.3 billion in federal funds.

But the failure of the second-round application, and who or what was to blame, has caused a furor in Trenton, leading to Gov. Chris Christie’s firing of Bret Schundler as education commissioner on Friday and Democratic legislators holding hearings next week.

Less known has been the role of Wireless Generation, which though hired as a consultant to help steer the state through the process also apparently failed to catch the critical mistake over missing information that is at the center of the political storm.

"This just raises more questions about the application and how it was done," said state Assemblyman Joseph Cryan (D-Union), the Assembly majority leader. "We certainly look forward to hearing from the consultant next week, and getting their version of events."

Schundler Takes Responsibility

In what Christie described as a "clerical error" but what Schundler today acknowledged may have been his own, the state failed to provide readily available information about its education funding in 2008 and 2009, costing the state five points that could have made the difference. The state fell short of potentially winning $399 million by just three out of a maximum of 500 points.

After days of conjecture over how the mistake was made, Schundler said in an interview last night that it was he who inadvertently dropped the necessary language from the application. "It turns out I was responsible," he said.

He said that in the back-and-forth of writing and rewriting different sections of the application, including working with Wireless Generation’s staff, he left the required information out of the working copy.

As to whether the consultants or anyone else should have caught the error in a final edit, Schundler said he would not blame others.

It is not unusual for the DOE -- or for any department -- to have outside consultants work on such applications, especially those as complex as the Race to the Top. Several other states also hired consultants to help in their bids.

Consultant's Contract Won Waiver

According to a contract signed on May 18, Wireless Generation was hired to "provide planning, communication, writing and advisory services" for New Jersey’s second-round application. The total amount was a fixed $179,750 for work through June.

The contract was not put out to competitive bid, instead receiving a waiver from the state treasurer’s office. But Wireless Generation had won the first-round contract through a competitive bid process conducted under the administration of then-Gov. Jon Corzine, according to the waiver request. The amount of that first contract was not disclosed.

"Because Wireless Generation developed New jersey’s first application, we believe they are uniquely qualified, and it would be most advantageous and in the state’s best interest to request this Supplement Waiver of Advertising to continue to provide the required services," read the request from Willa Spicer, the deputy commissioner at the time and now an assistant commissioner.

Schundler said much the same last night, describing the company as having a "solid foundation about both our application and New Jersey’s education system."

Wireless Generation is a 10-year-old company of about 300 employees, headquartered in Brooklyn and with offices in Atlanta, Dallas and Washington, D.C.

The company is best known for its education technology services, including a high-profile project in New York City developing customized instructional services for students through the use of technology.

It said in its agreement with New Jersey that it would deploy four full-time staffers to work with the state "for the duration of the project," as well as other experts, including its president, Larry Berger, and Lauren Resnick, a noted education psychologist at the University of Pittsburgh.

"We look forward to assisting New Jersey in winning the Race to the Top," wrote Wireless Generation vice president David Stevenson at the conclusion of the agreement.

Reached yesterday, the company’s vice president for communication, Andrea Reibel, would not comment beyond saying it had advised the state on the application.

"Wireless Generation provided planning and advisory services to the New Jersey Department of Education in support of its Race to the Top application," read a prepared statement. "At this point, any questions about the state's application should be addressed to the New Jersey Department of Education."

A department spokesman would not comment further.

Star Ledger, ‘Fired N.J. education chief Bret Schundler says he made 'Race to the Top' error’

Published: Monday, August 30, 2010, 9:32 PM     Updated: Tuesday, August 31, 2010, 8:09 AM

Lisa Fleisher/Statehouse Bureau

TRENTON -- Former Education Commissioner Bret Schundler admitted today he made the crucial error that cost New Jersey up to $400 million federal education funds, saying he inadvertently removed crucial data from the state’s application.

However, Schundler, who was fired from his post last Friday, continued to maintain he did not lie to Gov. Chris Christie when describing what happened during the state’s Race to the Top presentation to judges in Washington, D.C., earlier this month

In a telephone interview with The Star-Ledger, Schundler said he’s learned the Education Department has found a draft of the Race to the Top application with edits, in his handwriting, that remove the data federal officials requested.

Schundler told The Record one member of a team of consultants hired to help with the application found the draft. The consultant, Wireless Generation, was paid $179,750 to help develop New Jersey’s application. The contract promised the firm would be "responsible for the quality, technical accuracy and timely completion" of the proposal.

Still, Schundler blamed himself.

"I was responsible," he said. "What can I say? ... I screwed up."

A spokesman for the Department of Education referred calls to the governor’s press office, which declined to comment.

Andrea Reibel, spokeswoman for Wireless Generation, would not comment on the contract’s declaration that the company was responsible for the accuracy of the application.

"Wireless Generation provided planning and advisory services to the New Jersey Department of Education in support of its Race to the Top application," she wrote in an e-mail to The Record. "At this point, any questions about the state’s application should be addressed to the New Jersey Department of Education."

The series of events last week roiled the state’s education community and prompted both houses of the Democrat-controlled legislature to call for hearings. It also led to the first high-profile departure from the Christie administration.

Schundler said that as late as Friday, he was still unsure about the source of the error, which Christie, during a press conference on Wednesday, attributed to a mid-level staffer. The governor also blamed Washington bureaucrats who he said would not let the state correct the error during an in-person presentation in Washington, D.C. on June 1.

But on Thursday, a video released by the U.S. Department of Education contradicted Christie’s claims and showed the state did not try to correct the error.

The governor then asked for Schundler’s resignation.

Previous coverage:

Future of N.J. school reform remains uncertain without federal funds, permanent education chief

Tom Moran: Christie faces ugly political ramifications of 'Race to the Top' error, Schundler firing

Gov. Christie, Schundler clash over who was wrong leading up to firing

Biography of Bret Schundler

N.J. lawmakers have mixed reactions to education chief Bret Schundler's firing

Schundler requested firing instead of resignation so he can collect unemployment

Gov. Chris Christie fires N.J. schools chief Bret Schundler

Background: After decades on the rise, Schundler has a quick fall

Read the NJEA statement

Editorial: Bret Schundler had to go; N.J. education commissioner was out of sync with his boss

Schundler was let go Friday morning after he asked to be fired rather than resign so that he could receive unemployment benefits. He continues to maintain he did not mislead Christie about the state’s presentation.

The state committed the error on a 5-point question in which it provided budget information for the wrong year. The application asked for data from 2008 and 2009. Instead, the state provided numbers for 2011. The mistake cost the state 4.8 points on a 500-point application. The state missed out on the grant by 3 points, placing 11th behind Ohio.

In the end, nine states and the District of Columbia split about $3.3 billion on Race to the Top funds, which reward states for aggressive and new approaches to improving schools.

Schundler said today he "must have" edited out the previous years’ information because he didn’t have the question in front of him — just the answer — and assumed the federal government would want current information.

"That’s the thing I can’t understand. That’s so fundamental and such a big screw-up," he said. "It’s amazing to me that we screwed up in this regard. It’s amazing to me that I screwed up in this regard, and that others — that we screwed up as a team."

Schundler said a bevy of lawyers, consultants and education department employees were editing and fact-checking the application throughout the week before it was due June 1. He said he spent much of last week trying to piece together the edits before the deadline, checking through his computer files, but could not pinpoint when the error was made.

 

Philadelphia Inquirer ‘Schundler: 'This was my error'

By Beth DeFalco

Associated Press

TRENTON - New Jersey's fired education commissioner said Monday he learned he had made a mistake that might have cost the state a $400 million federal education grant even though he did not remember doing it.

In an interview with the Associated Press on Monday night, Bret Schundler said he had just been informed the Department of Education discovered a draft of the state's application with notes in his handwriting removing key information.

Although he said he didn't recall making the error specifically, he didn't dispute it.

"This was my error," Schundler said. "It's clear that it happened during editing."

The Star-Ledger of Newark first reported that Schundler made the mistake.

Republican Gov. Christie fired Schundler on Friday, days after the state learned it had lost out on the coveted Race to the Top grant. The state was a top runner-up in the competition, missing by only a few points.

Last Tuesday, it was revealed that the state lost crucial points in reporting budget figures for the wrong years in one section of its application.

The next day, Christie defended Schundler and blamed the U.S. Department of Education for considering form over substance. Christie said Schundler gave the federal government the missing information during a meeting in Washington this month. But a video released Thursday by the federal Department of Education shows that wasn't the case.

Expressing frustration that Schundler had given him the wrong story, Christie asked him Friday to resign. Schundler preferred to be fired so he might be able to collect unemployment insurance.

On Friday, Schundler said he told Christie what really happened but Christie still explained it incorrectly to the media. Schundler insisted Monday he had not misled Christie about what had happened.

"I think if he fired me on this, for making the error, I would have understood it," Schundler said. "But what he did was to fire me for supposedly giving him the wrong information about whether we tried correcting the missing information."

A spokesman for Christie declined to comment Monday night.

Schundler said he must have assumed the federal government wanted the most recent state budget information. The application asked for 2008-09 data, which was in earlier versions of the application.

"I remember thinking we should put in current data, but I didn't remember taking out the old data," Schundler said.

Many people fact-checked and edited the application in the days before it was turned in, he said. After the mistake was realized, the administration tried to figure out how it happened.

Schundler said a consultant for the Department of Education had been on vacation and just discovered the handwritten notes from Schundler upon returning.

Both chambers of the Democratic-controlled state Legislature plan hearings next month to examine the error and have invited Schundler to testify.

Asbury Park Press ‘Schundler firing was warranted’

AN ASBURY PARK PRESS EDITORIAL • August 30, 2010

Bret Schundler had to go. His recent bungling of an application that potentially cost New Jersey its share of $400 million in Race To The Top federal grant money was the last straw and clear evidence he was unfit as education commissioner.

 

Quantcast The application required a comparison of state education spending in 2008 and 2009. That comparison was nowhere to be found, and it cost the state enough points to knock it out of contention. A videotape of Schundler's meeting with those assessing the application clearly shows he did not have the figures needed. Such a costly and profound oversight, coupled with Schundler's previous missteps, left Gov. Chris Christie no choice but to let him go.

Christie had already given Schundler the proverbial second chance after the debacle in May in which he exceeded his authority and negotiated an unapproved deal with the NJEA over the state's Race to The Top application.

Schundler, without authorization from Christie, had reached a compromise with the NJEA on reforms to be included in the application. Christie rejected the compromise and forced a hasty rewrite of the paperwork on deadline. That sloppy rewrite left out required information that ultimately cost New Jersey any share of the federal education grants.

Related

·         Superintendents taken aback by events in Trenton

·         Schundler statement about dismissal draws rebuke from governor's office

·         Compilation of statements by NJ officials on Bret Schundler's firing

·         Schundler invited to testify before Senate panel

·         Christie fires New Jersey education commissioner Bret Schundler

·         Race to the Top: A $400M blunder

·         NJ didn't have corrected figures for grant application, video shows

It doesn't matter, in the end, just who left the proper figures off the forms. Schundler was the point man for the process, and he bears responsibility for the costly blunder. He was justly fired for the error. The subsequent bickering between the governor and his fired education chief provided interesting political theater. Christie's assertion that he was "misinformed" by Schundler about federal officials not accepting the correct figures — especially in light of video contradicting that assertion — or Schundler's claim that Christie misunderstood his explanation, shouldn't obscure the fact that Schundler showed on more than one occasion that he simply wasn't up to the job.

The honorable thing for Schundler to do would have been to resign rather than demand the governor fire him so that he could collect unemployment.

Whether you agree or disagree with Christie's education policy and proposals, he has every right to appoint people to cabinet-level positions who will faithfully execute those policies with a high degree of competence.

Schundler failed the governor on both counts. More than once.

It was time for him to look for a new job.