Issues & Legislation

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

GSCS Board of Trustees endorsed ACTION LETTER to Trenton asking for caution on Charter School expansion
GSCS: "As you are no doubt aware, the NJ legislature will be acting on new and revised charter school legislation in the coming weeks. There are many critical points that will directly impact GSCS districts, and the Coalition has been closely following the development of legislation, urging legislators and Department of Education officials to consider factors that might negatively impact GSCS districts. The attached letter was written by the Princeton Regional Board of Education and fully endorsed by the GSCS Board of Trustees at its December 1st meeting. We suggest that you, as a GSCS member district, take the following actions:"

Garden State Coalition of Schools

204 W. State St., Trenton, NJ 08608 • (609) 394-2828 • www.gscschools.org •gscs2000@gmail.com

December 6, 2010

To all GSCS Superintendents and Board of Education Members:

As you are no doubt aware, the NJ legislature will be acting on new and revised charter school legislation in the coming weeks. There are many critical points that will directly impact GSCS districts, and the Coalition has been closely following the development of legislation, urging legislators and Department of Education officials to consider factors that might negatively impact GSCS districts.

The attached letter was written by the Princeton Regional Board of Education and fully endorsed by the GSCS Board of Trustees at its December 1st meeting. We suggest that you, as a GSCS member district, take the following actions:

• Discuss at the Board of Education level with the goal of getting endorsement from your Board

• Send the letter on your letterhead and signed by your Board to your district's legislators and mayor, members of the Senate Ed and Budget Committees, the Assembly Ed and Budget Committees, the Acting Commissioner, the Governor, and your local media. (Some of the addresses you will need are attached.)

• Complete this in December if at all possible, as time is of the essence. If it takes until early January, it is still worth completing the endorsement and dissemination.

As always, we appreciate your feedback and thank you in advance for your efforts in this important initiative.

Lynne Strickland

Executive Director

Garden State Coalition of Schools

______________________

Letter:

December 2010

To Our Governor, Acting Commissioner of Education, State Legislators:

We urge you to pay close attention to the issues surrounding charter school legislation. New Jersey residents hold high expectations for their public schools, invest in education at high rates and are proud of New Jersey’s strong record of excellence in public education. Nonetheless, we recognize that there are examples of failure and that there are great needs which must be addressed.

Please take time to learn from other states’ successes and from their failures. In many states, there has not been educational or fiscal accountability on the part of charter schools. Charters’ success rates are mixed and millions of dollars have been poorly invested in some charter schools. While developing policy and legislation, please examine reliable research. A 2010 federal study by Mathematica demonstrated minimal or negative impact of charter schools on the performance of higher income and higher achieving students.

We eagerly stand accountable for providing the best and most cost effective education possible for ALL children, and implore you to protect what is sound and serving children well in New Jersey. As you move forward with legislation that insures equity and excellence for all of our students we specifically request the following:

Establish criteria for proof of educational need of charter schools in each community. In the midst of a recession we cannot afford to divert funds from successful programs in order to fund “boutique” schools designed for small and segregated populations with special wants. Needs and wants are very different bases for the investment of public dollars.
Use taxpayer dollars wisely and respect taxpayers’ needs and opinions. Taxpayers should vote on approval of their tax dollars being directed to new charters or expansion of current charters. Additionally, taxpayers should vote for members of the charter schools’ boards just as they elect representatives to traditional school boards. THERE SHOULD BE NO TAXATION WITHOUT REPRESENTATION.
Hold charters to high standards for educational outcomes by collecting performance data that demonstrates their students are out-performing comparable cohorts in traditional schools.
Assure the public that all legislation created to insure accountability and oversight of traditional public school districts will also apply to all charters.
Do not approve for-profit charter school systems since they are profiting from public funding.
Do not sub-contract to other institutions the authority to approve charter applications since it minimizes the State Department of Education’s role, subjugates taxpayer authority and increases costs.
Monitor enrollments closely so that we do not further segregate our beautifully diverse and enriching population. One of the backbones of public education is preparing a diverse population of students to together become the understanding, creative and talented thinkers and leaders of the 21^st century.

Much is at stake. We ask that as leaders of our fine state you listen and study closely so that wise and balanced decisions are made regarding the education of ALL of our children and the investments of all of our taxpayers.

Sincerely,

The Princeton Regional Board of Education

Trenton Contact Information

Governor's Office
Governor Chris Christie
PO Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
609-292-6000
Note: If calling, please leave the message that charter school legislation must be studied carefully so that it does not negatively impact on public school districts.
Email: You can only email the Governor by visiting www.gov.state.nj. Click on his website in the upper right corner and follow the prompts from there.

Senate President
Sen. Stephen M. Sweeney
935 Kings Highway, Suite 400, West Deptford, NJ 08086
Email: sensweeney@njleg.org

Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee
Chairperson: Sen. Paul A. Sarlo
207 Hackensack St., 2nd Floor, Wood-Ridge, NJ 07075
Email: sensarlo@njleg.org

Vice Chair: Sen. Brian P. Stack
5801 Palisade Ave., West New York, NJ 07093
Email: senstack@njleg.org

Sen. James Beach
1309 Route 70 West, Cherry Hill, NJ 08002
Email: senbeach@njleg.org

Sen.Anthony R. Bucco
75 Bloomfield Ave., Suite 302, Denville, NJ 07834
Email: senbucco@njleg.org

Sen. Barbara Buono
2 Lincoln Highway, Suite 401, Edison, NJ 08820
Email: senbuono@njleg.org

Sen. Sandra B. Cunningham
1738 Kennedy Blvd., Jersey City, NJ 07305
Email: sencunningham@njleg.org

Sen. Michael J. Doherty
127 Belvidere Ave., Washington, NJ 07882
Email: sendoherty@njleg.org

Sen. Kevin J. O'Toole
155 Route 46 West, Suite 108, Wayne, NJ 07470
Email: senotoole@njleg.org

Sen. Steven B. Oroho
115 Demarest Rd., Suite 2B, Sparta, NJ 07871
Email: senoroho@njleg.org

Sen. Joseph Pennacchio
330 Changebridge Rd., Suite 102, Pine Brook, NJ 07058
Email: senpennacchio@njleg.org

Sen. Teresa Ruiz
166 Bloomfield Ave., Newark, NJ 07104
Email: senruiz@njleg.org

Sen. Bob Smith
216 Stelton Rd, Suite E-5, Piscataway, NJ 08854
Email: sensmith@njleg.org

Sen. Jeff Van Drew
21 N. Main St.,
Cape May Court House, NJ 08210
Email: senvandrew@njleg.org

Senate Education Committee
Chairperson: Sen. Teresa Ruiz
166 Bloomfield Ave., Newark, NJ 07104
Email: senruiz@njleg.org

Vice Chair: Sen. Jim Whelan
511 Tilton Rd., Northfield, NJ 08225
Email: senwhelan@njleg.org

Sen. Diane B. Allen
11 W. Broad St., Burlington, NJ 08016
Email: senallen@njleg.org

Sen. Thomas H. Kean, Jr.
425 North Ave., E., Suite C, Westfield, NJ 07090
Email: senkean@njleg.org

Sen. Shirley K. Turner
1440 Pennington Rd.,
Trenton, NJ 08618
Email: senturner@njleg.org

Assembly Speaker
Asw. Sheila Y. Oliver
15-33 Halsted St., Suite 202, East Orange, NJ 07018
Email: aswoliver@njleg.org

Assembly Budget Committee
Chairperson: Asm. Louis D. Greenwald
1101 Laurel Oak Rd, Suite 150, Voorhees, NJ 08043
Email: asmgreenwald@njleg.org

Vice Chair: Asm. Gary S. Schaer
1 Howe Ave., Suite 302, Passaic, NJ 07055
Email: asmschaer@njleg.org

Asm Peter J. Barnes, III
3 Stephenville Pkwy, Suite 2E, Edison, NJ 08820
Email: asmbarnes@njleg.org

Asm. John J. Burzichelli
935 Kings Highway, Suite 400, West Deptford, NJ 08086
Email: asmburzichelli@njleg.org

Asm. Albert Coutinho
73-75 Ferry St., Newark, NJ 07105
Email: asmcoutinho@njleg.org

Asm. Gordon M. Johnson
545 Cedar Lane, Teaneck, NJ 07666
Email: asmjohnson@njleg.org

Asm. Joseph R. Malone, III
311 Farnsworth Ave., Bordentown, NJ 08505
Email: asmmalone@njleg.org

Asm. Declan J. O'Scanlon, Jr.
32 Monmouth St., Red Bank, NJ 07701
Email: asmoscanlon@njleg.org

Asw. Nellie Pou
100 Hamilton Plaza, Suite 1405 Paterson, NJ 07505
Email: aswpou@njleg.org

Asw. Joan M. Quigley
235 Ninth St., Jersey City, NJ 07302
Email: aswquigley@njleg.org

Asm. Jay Webber
760 Route 10 W., Suite 101, Whippany, NJ 07981
Email: asmwebber@njleg.org

Asm. David W. Wolfe
852 Highway 70, Brick, NJ 08724
Email: asmwolfe@njleg.or

Assembly Education Committee
Chairperson: Asm. Patrick J. Deignan, Jr.
908 Oak Tree Ave., Unit P, South Plainfield, NJ 07080
Email: asmdeignan@njleg.org

Vice Chair: Asw. Joan M. Voss
520 Main St., Fort Lee, NJ 07024
Email: aswvoss@njleg.org

Asm. Ralph R. Caputo
148-152 Franklin St., Belleville, NJ 07109
Email: aswcaputo@njleg.org

Asw. Elease Evans
100 Hamilton Plaza, Suite 1400, Paterson, NJ 07505
Email: aswevans@njleg.org

Asw. Mila M. Jasey
15 Village Plaza, Suite 1B, South Orange, NJ 07079
Email: aswjasey@njleg.org

Asm. Joseph R. Malone, III
311 Farnsworth Ave., Bordentown, NJ 08505
Email: asmmalone@njleg.org

Asm. Paul D. Moriarity
129 Johnson Rd., Suite 1, Turnersville, NJ 08012
Email: asmmoriarity@njleg.org

Asm. Ruben J. Ramos, Jr.
70 Hudson St., Hoboken,NJ 07030
Email: asmramos@njleg.org

Asm. Scott T. Rumana
155 Rt. 46 West, Suite 108, Wayne, NJ 07470
Email: asmrumana@njleg.org

Asm. Brian E. Rumpf
620 W. Lacey Rd., Forked River, NJ 08731
Email: asmrumpf@njleg.org

Asw. Bonnie Watson Coleman
226 W. State St., Trenton, NJ 08608
Email: aswwatsoncoleman@njleg.org

Asm. David W. Wolfe
852 Highway 70, Brick, NJ 08724
Email: asmwolfe@njleg.org

NJ Department of Education
Acting Commissioner Rochelle Hendricks
PO Box 500, Trenton, NJ 08625
Fax: 609-777-4099
Email: rochelle.hendriks@gov.doe.nj.us