Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

 
     6-24-11 Democrat Budget Proposal brings aid to all districts
     4-29-11 BOOMERANG! Near 80 per cent of School Budgets Passed in Wednesday'sSchool Elections
     4-21-11 Supreme Court hears school funding argument
     4-14-11 Governor Releases Legislation to Address Education Reform Package
     4-8-11 Education Issues in the News
     4-7-11 Early news coverage & press releases - Governor's Brooking Inst. presentation on his education reform agenda
     3-25-11 Education Week on School Cutbacks Around The Nation
     2-7-11 Education - and Controversy - in the News
     12-5-10 Sunday News - Education-related Issues
     10-8-10 Education Issue in the News
     9-1-10 Education in the News
     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
     8-16-10 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)
     7-3-10 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
     GSCS On the Scene in Trenton: State Budget poised to pass late Monday...Cap Proposals, Opportunity Scholarship Act in Limbo
     6-28-10 State Budget tops the news today
     GSCS On the Scene in Trenton: Cap Proposals, Opportunity Scholarship Act in Limbo
     6-23-10 Trenton News: State Budget on the move...Education Issues
     6-11-10 In the News: State Budget moving ahead on schedule
     6-10-10 Op-Ed in Trenton Times Sunday June 6 2010
     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
     4-23-10 Education issues remain headline news
     4-22-10 School Elections - in the News Today
     4-6-10 'Gov. Chris Chrisite extends dealdine for teacher salary concessions'
     4-6-10 'NJ school layoffs, program cuts boost attention to Apri 20 votes
     4-2-10 Press of Atlantic City lists county impact re: school aid reduction
     4-2-10 'On Titanic, NJEA isn't King of the World'
     4-1-10 Courier Post article reports on Burlington and Camden County district budgets
     4-1-10 Education in the News today
     4-1-10 New Initiatives outlined to encourage wage freezes - reaction
     3-30-10 Race to the Top winners helped by local buy-in
     3-29-10 The Record and Asbury Park Press - Editorials
     3-26-10 School Aid, Budget Shortfall - Impt Related Issues = Front Page News
     3-23-10 ' N.J. Gov. Chris Christie signs pension, benefits changes for state employees'
     3-23-10 State Budget Issues in the News
     3-17-10 Budget News - Gov. Chris Christie proposes sacrifices
     3-17-10 Budget News - NJ Schools Stunned By Cuts
     3-14-10 'Christie will propose constitutional amendment to cap tax hikes in N.J. budget'
     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'
     2-26-10 'NJ average property taxes grow 3.3 percent to an average of $7,300'
     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
     2-16-10 'Christie Adopts Corzine Cuts, Then Some'
     1-29-10 Schools in the News
     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
     1-15-10 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'
     1-13-10 More articles, plus Wikipedia information re New Education Commissioner, Bret Schundler
     1-13-10 More articles + Wikipedia information re New Education Commissioner, Bret Schundler
     1-13-10 Christie Press Conference reports
     1-12-10 Change in Trenton
     1-6-10 Race to the Top Plans on the move, not without conflict
     12-23-09 Press of Atlantic City - 'Corzine forms panel to aid nonpublic schools'
     1-5-10 News articles re: lame duck
     1-4-10 'Last Call for Lame Ducks in Trenton'
     1-5-10 Update on January 4 Lame Duck Session
     12-28-09 Education Week 'Race to Top' Driving Policy Action Across States
     12-27-09 'New Jersey competes for education reform stimulus money' (aka 'Race to the Top' funds)
     12-20-09 Education in the News
     12-12 & 13-09 Education Issues in the News
     11-29-09 Ramifications - News of NJ's fiscal realities
     11-20-09 'Christie lays down his law for state'
     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
     11-11-09 'Oliver ready for Nov.23 leadership vote, wants up or down vote on marriage equality'
     11-11-09 Christie mum on fiscal emergency declaration
     11-9-09 Edcuation in the News
     11-8-09 News of Note
     11-6-09 News of Note
     11-5-09 Day After the Election News
     11-3-09 ELECTION DAY IS TODAY - SHOW UP AND VOTE FOR THE CANDIDATES OF YOUR CHOICE
     11-2-09 NY Times NJ Governors' race update
     11-4-09 Record low turnout elects Chris Chrisite NJ's Governor
     11-3-09 'Chris Christie wins N.J. governor race'
     11-1-09 Education News of Note
     Education Week on Federal Stimulus Funding Issues
     10-26-09 'High school sports spending grows as budgets get tighter inNew Jersey'
     10-22-09 News of Note
     10-20-09 News of Note
     10-19-09 Education Week 'States felling fiscal pain despite the stimulus'
     10-14-09 'Meetings are just the tip of the iceberg'
     10-7 & 9-09 Gubernatorial Campaign news: Candidates on education; Corzine on next year's state budget
     10-5-09 Gannett: Editorial & Recommendations re: Gubernatorial Campaign Issues '09
     10-4-09 NY Times 'As Property Taxes Become a Real Burden'
     10-2-09 News of Note
     10-1-09 Education Week on Acheivement Gap narrowing; Algebra Testing
     9-30-09 'Attack ads give way to issues as campaign enters final phase'
     9-30-09 Results of School Construction bond referenda rolling in
     9-27-09 Education News of Note
     9-23-09 'Tests changing for special ed students'
     9-16-09 Courier News Editorial
     9-9-09 News of Note
     9-13-09 As an issue for N.J.(Gubernatorial election), schools are in'
     9-3 & 4-09 News of Note
     8-20-09 'Nearly all NJ teachers are highly qualified'
     8-10-09 News of Note
     8-7-09 'Bill would strengthen teacher tenure rights'
     8-4-09 Recent NJ Education News of Note
     7-22-09 'State gives extra aid for schools an extraordinary boost'
     7-16-08 Schools Testing measures adopted; Test scoring upgraded - harder to pass
     7-14-09 Philadelphia Inquirer Editorial
     7-1-09 What's the Buzz: News of Note
     4-23-09 The public shows its support for public education in passing nearly 75 per cent of school budgets statewide
     4-17-09 The $609M Federal Stimulus aid to NJ - initial reactions
     4-19 and 20-09 Editorial and School Elections articles
     3-29-09 Record Editorial on Judge Doyne recommendations
     3-10-09 GOVERNOR TO DELIVER STATE BUDGET MESSAGE TODAY - SCHOOL AID FIGURES TO BE RELEASED BY THURSDAY LATEST
     1-11-09 'Corzine State of State speech to put economy front & center'
     12-28-08 NY Times 'Pension Fight Signals What Lies Ahead'
     12-29-08 NJ to new leaders - Fund our schools
     11-19-08 'Too soon to scrap Abbott'
     11-24-08 Editorial asks for preschool initiative slow down
     11-23-08 State lacks financial incentives to sell concept of school mergers
     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
     8-29-08 'Newly hired teachers benefit from Corzine delay'
     8-26-08 What's the Buzz...
     News on the Issues - Stay Informed
     8-15-08 'Superintendents sue education commissioner'
     8-14-07 In the news today
     7-28 &29- 08 Fuel cost crisis impacting school budgets across the nation
     6-13-08 News on Education Committee actions yesterday in Trenton
     6-10-08 NJ lawmakers work on $33B spending plan Tuesday
     6-9-08 GSCS Quick Facts: TRENTON FOCUS THIS WEEK
     6-4-08 In the News
     5-21-08 News Articles & editorial
     4-30-08 'Loophole on town mergers targeted
     4-18 & 4-21-08 RECENT LEGISLATIVE PROPOSALS: 3 MAJOR POLICY CHANGES PROMOTED BY ASSEMBLY SPEAKER ROBERTS
     NEWS EDITORIALS Star Ledger 4-19 & 4-20 Ammo for Abbott Foes & Spending but with Restraint
     Recent news articles of note re: probable 'lame duck ' legislative session issues - to be or not to be- and controversial school construction report
     10-23 Media reports & Trenton responses to date re GSCS Press Conf
     In the news - Corzine on school aid formula & good news for urban schools
     9-13-07Corzine adds school aid to the lame-duck agenda
     Back to School News of Note
     8-10-07 'Standing 'O' greets Corzine as he hosts town hall mtg'
     8-8-07 Editorial 'School [construction] program needs more than a facelift'
     8-2-07 Editorial 'Reliance on property taxes must be fixed'
     8-1-07 'Paterson isn't ready to gain control' & 7-29 'The Numbers still don't add up'
     7-27-07 Retiree health costs 'time bomb'
     7-26-07 'State's tab for retirees' health care is $58B'
     7-25-07 Debate over School Tests
     7-25-07 NY Times '2 NJ school districts regain some local control'
     6-29-07 Lots of news affecting NJ, its schools and communities this week - STATE BUDGET signed - LIST OF LINE ITEM VETOES - US SUPREME CT RULING impacts school desgregation - SPECIAL EDUCATION GROUPS file suit against state
     5-21-07 In Connecticut '2 School Aid Plans Have a Similar Theme'
     5-16-07 Education Week 'Frustration Builds in NJ Funding Debate'
     5-15-07 Grad students tackle school funding issues
     4-18-07 School Budget Vote passed statewide at 78% rate - GSCS take: state aid increases a factored in offsetting property tax increases, thus boosting passing rate by 24.6%, up from last year's passing rate of 53.4%
     4-4-07 News articles, editorial & Op-Ed on bill signings for A1 and A4
     4-4-07 N Y Times, front page 'NJ Pension Fund Endangered by Diverted Billions'
     3-25-07 New York Times on NJ Comparative Spending Guide, more on Gov putting off signing A1, Tax Caps & Rebate bill
     3-16-07 News articles
     3-15-07 State eases at risk aid restrictions & 25% members of NJ Senate retiring (so far)
     3-12-07 This article tells you why you cannot get easy access to legislator votes on-line
     3-8-07 'Education Chief Revamps Department'
     3-1-07 Op Ed piece re 'Super' Superintendent in the CORE Plan
     3-1-07 Emerging Devil showing up in the details
     2-23-07 News Articles re Gov's Budget Proposal
     2-22-07 Gov's Budget Message Link & Related News Articles
     2-22-07 News articles re Governor's Budget Message this morning
     2-21-07 Associated Press 'Codey Affirms More State Aid'
     2-16 to 2-19 News Articles of Note
     2-20-07 Live from the Ledger on-line
     2-21-07 Associated Press - Codey Affrims More School Aid
     2-16 to 2-19 New Articles of Note
     2-15-07 'Parents get boost on special ed rights' Star Ledger
     2-12-07 State School Aid - needed to offset property taxes now
     2-8-07 Editorial - ' Progress, Trenton style'
     2-1-07 Turnpike for sale, Gov - need funding formula, more
     1-23-07 Tax Reform in Trenton?
     1-9-07 Countywide Pilot Program and County 'Super' Superintendent bills held again yesterday, Jan 22 next probable vote date scheduled for these bills
     1-8-07 Articles & Editorial talk about 'missing pieces' of tax reform proposal and note consequences
     1-5-07 Small-town officials protest consolidation
     1-4-07 Gov Corzine & legislative leaders agree on 4% hard cap tied to sliding scale rebates (20% max on down)
     1-3-07 GSCS Member ALERT 'County School bills' fastracked again
     12-19-06 Feedback - articles on school funding heaings yesterday
     12-18-06 Sunday editorials - take of Property Tax session
     12-14-06 Trenton News articles
     11-15-06 The Special Session Jt Committee Reports
     11-19-06 Sunday Press Articles & Commentaries
     11-16-06 Property Tax Proposal news articles
     11-14-06 Direction of Special Session Report Recommendations starting to leak into press articles
     11-13-06 Schools, property taxes fuel debates
     11-11-06 New school funding plan could add $1 billion in aid
     11-10-06 NJ education chief vows urban support
     11-4-06 Senate President & Assembly Speaker 'no new taxes'
     11-1-06 Gannett 'Halved property tax called unrealistic'
     10-31-06 The Record - Property Tax Cut Debated
     10-30-06 NY Times
     10-21-06 Education Data Study Released - how the news is being reported
     10-20-06 Education - study data released
     10-5-06 Conversation on school funding, consolidation continues
     9-25-06 Savings Little -Costs at merged schools similar
     9-20-06 Coverage of the benefits & School Funding Jt Comm hearings 9-19-06
     9-18-06 News Articles re Special Session
     9-15-06 Star Ledger - 3.25B suggested for school construction
     9-7-06 The Record Local Govts Poised to save as co-pays rise
     9-7-06 News re Jt Comm on Consolidation & Shared Services mtg 9-5
     9-6-06 Articles re Jt Comm Hearing yesterday & related school news
     9-4-06 Weekend news articles of note
     8-29-06 School Funding to be reviewed today
     8-29-06 Assoc Press - School Funding to be reviewd today
     8-29-06 Hopewell Valley article re - courtesy busing withdrawal
     8-26-06 'N.J.'s best schools in wealthiest, northern towns'
     8-23-06 Crowd assails changes to state health plan
     8-23-06 Live from the Ledger on-line
     8-20-06 AP 'Property Tax reform bid to shift to overdrive'
     8-22-06 Star Ledger Column & NY Times Editorial
     8-14-06 News Clips
     8-9-06 Special Session Jt Comm on Consolidation of Govt Services meeting 8-8-06
     8-9-06 article re today's Jt Comm on Public Employee Benfits Reform
     8-8-06 NY Times Public Pension Plans Face Billions in Shortage
     7-25-06 Associated Press Prop Tax Q & A
     7-18-06 Live from the Ledger
     7-16-06 (thru 7-21-06) Bergen Record series investigate cost of NJ public services & property tax link
     7-16-06 Bergen Record series investigate cost of NJ public services & property tax link
     7-12-06 Column on State Budget legislator items
     7-12-06 Statehouse starts talking specifics about property tax reform
     7-13-06 Articles - Property tax issues, teacher salaries, voucher suit filing
     6-30-06 State Budget news - as the dissonance must be resolved
     6-29-06 Mirroring the elements, State Budget looking like a 'natural disaster'
     6-25-06 State Budget issues: legislative branches conflict - news articles
     6-21-06 Star Ledger - Washington DC Bureau re graduation rates & quality education
     6-20-06 News articles re State Budget FY07
     6-15-06 Star Ledger, Gannet articles- Abbott advocates demand school reform at educ. dept
     6-14-06 Assembly Minority Budget Leader Joe Malone's Op Ed
     Editorial on benefit of using UEZ surplus for spec educ aid for this year
     6-12-06 News Clips
     Weekend News Clips re Property Tax & School Funding issues
     6-9-06 Star Ledger ' Salary review bill hits roadblock'
     6-7-06 News Articles re Leg Summer Session work on Property Taxes
     6-6-06 Star Ledger re Special Summer Session
     6-5-06 Editorials on school funding & State Budget articles
     6-1-06 Star Ledger Thursday article on GSCS Annl Mtg
     5-30-06 News Articles
     5-21-06 Sunday Courier Post on Schools' hiring
     5-23-06 News Articles
     5-23-06 AP 'Codey to propose school ballott change'
     5-14-06N Y Times 'For school budgets the new word is NO'
     5-17-06 Trenton Times - School Aid, budget dominate forum
     5-16-06 News fromTrenton
     5-10-06 A Lot is going on - Major News fromTrenton
     News articles re even less state revenue & SCI scapegoating
     5-5-06 News articles Gannett and Courier Post
     One example of schools consolidating services
     4-16-06 Courier Post
     4-16-06 Star Ledger editorial & article re Gov v. Abbott from 4-15-06
     4-16-06 Sunday NY Times Metro Section, front page
     40-16-06 Gannett & Asbury Park Press on School Budget election issues
     4-13-06 'Budget cap puts NJ schools on edge'
     4-7-07 The Record
     3-31-06 AP 'Budget idea puts onus on income taxes, businesses'
     3-28-06 NY Times re Texas school finance case
     3-25-06 Press of Atlantic City
     3-29-06 News Articles on State Budget testimony before the Assembly Budget Comm. yesterday in Collingswood
     3-29-06 News Articles on State Budget testimony in Collingswood 3-28-06
     3-10-06 Star Ledger 'Time is ripe for poorer districts to contribute.
     3-22-06 News Article sampling on Governor's Proposed FY07 Budget
     3-19-06 Millville, Vineland may lose Abbott status
     3-19-06 Sunday News Articles on State Budget
     3-15-06 News articles on FY07
     3-15-06 NY Times 'Crisis at School Agency Reflects Missteps'
     3-10-06 News articles GSCS related issues
     3-7-06 More articles on the Gov's Budget Summit and School Board members fo to Trenton
     2-14-06 TrentonTimes Letter to the Editor on school construction
     2-11-06 Trenton Timesn'NJ State Budget has little wiggle room'
     2-9-06 Star Ledger School agency reformers discuss goals, problems
     2-10-06 Star Ledger editorial re void of credible & useful data at Department of Education
     FUNDING HISTORY - May 27 1998 - Education Week article re Abbott V - funding above parity
     1-26-06 New York Times article re public schools fundraising for private support
     1-25-06 Star Ledger 'School District's Woes Point to Rising Tax Resistance'
     1-24-06 Asbury Park Press 'Funding sparks heated debate'
     1-15-06 Sunday Star Ledger front page on Property Taxes
     1-12-06 Star Ledger 'Lawmaker pushes tax relief plan'
     1-12-06StarLedger 'Lawmaker pushes his tax relief plan'
     1-11-06 Star Ledger - Corzine Casts Wide Net for Cabinet
     1-6 thru 1-9-06 articles on Lameduck session and School Construction
     1-5-06 Monmouth county article on S1701 ramifications,examples - hitting hard at home
     1-1-06 Press of Atlantic City
     12-30-05 School Construction and Education Funding news clips
     12-20-05 Star Ledger on NJ Supreme Court decision on stalled school construction
     12-20-05 Star Ledger 'Schools lower the heat and risk a backlash'
     12-20-05 Star Ledger
     12-20-05 The Record 'Where Will the Bills End?' NJ Supreme Court releases its opinion on stalled school construction program.
     12-14-05 Asbury ParkPress Editorial 'Re-assess the ABC's of School Funding' notes the Governor's role is critical to make positive change
     12-16-05 Star Ledger Schools may end courtesy busing, tied to S1701 budget stressors
     12-16-05 News articles of note
     Trenton Times 6-25-05 State Budget FY06 and Democrat Tensions
     Activists Hope to Revive School Funding Issue
     12-15-05 Star Ledger School bond plans get resounding 'no'
     Time Magazine
     12-10-05 Star Ledger Schools might get heating help as bill gains on spending caps
     On Star Ledger
     12-8-05 Asbury Park Press Mom takes up the torch for school funding
     12-5-05 Governor-elect Corzine selects policy advisory groups
     11-28-05 Star Ledger 'It's Lame-duck time in Trenton'
     11-20-05 Sunday Star Ledger 'Corzine's risky promise to taxpayers
     The Record 11-18-05 Corzine's tax fix to mean 'pain'
     11-17-05 Trenton Times 'Education Chief announces testing overhaul'
     11-15-05 N Y Times article
     11-13-05 Star Ledger Sunday front page 'Blueprint for 6 Billion Dollar Boondagle
     11-14-05 The Record Herb Jackson on Whitman experience a lesson for Corzine
     11-11-05 Trenton Times Corzine puts property taxes at the top of his agenda
     11-9-05 The Record - Governor Elect can't claim a mandate
     Assoc. Press NJ 6-10-05 Codey Brokering Deal on Tax Convention
     Gubernatorial Candidates' Education Plans announced September 05
     November 9 The Trenton Times - Corzine Triumphs
     November 7 YOUR VOTE TOMORROW COUNTS ... Some news articles worth reading
     11-4-05 Star Ledger State Board of Education calls for revamping school funding
     10-23-05 Sunda Star Ledger article on how property taxes work
     10-4-05 Trenton Times NJ may replenish school building fund.
     10-16-05 Sunday Star Ledger & Gannet news articles on gubernatorial candidates take on important issues related to public education issues
     10-19-05 Courier Post-Gannett article on Gubernatorial Debate
     Groups Seek Attention from Candidates 10-12-05
     10-6-05 and 10-12-05 Forrester v. Corzine, Corzine v. Forrester articles
     10-4-05 Trenton Times School Construction fund may be replenished
     9-29-05 Star Ledger 'NJ in hole for $53M after vote on school funds promised for construction
     9-26-05 Star Ledger School Construction Making the Grade is Now Up to the Voters
     9-22-05 Some news articles on the press conference - Gannett and Star Ledger
     9-23-05 Star Ledger School Construction on next Tuesday's bond referenda
     9-12-05 Associated Press Rutgers initiates new education institute
     9-9-05 Trenton Times,Corzine Education Agenda
     9-9-05 Asbury Park Press Corzine plans 25M education agenda
     Star Ledger 9-9-05 Soaring gas costs result in towns asking for cap relief
     Star Ledger 8-31-05: Though few, new schools open doors for kids
     8-19-05 Head of School Construction Agency Resigns Abruptly, Compounding Agency Turmoil
     Trenton Times 8-12-05 School funding sought
     Star Ledger Front Page 8-16-02 School districts run for school construction aid
     Herb Jackson Column 7-18-05 Budget 'cuts' more a case of creative math
     Herb Jackson Column 7-18-05 Budget 'cuts' more a case of creative math
     The Record 'get's it' Read Editorial 7-14-05
     Star Ledger 7-13-05 Codey Puts Constitutional Convention on Hole
     The Record7-10-05 Sunday Front Page Must Read
     Star Ledger 7-7-05 Local school officials told state may not provide promised construction funding
     The Record 7-3-05 State Budget Doles Out Money
     The Record 7-4-05 Rebates safe, but tax problem not nearer solution
     The Check it out - Press of Atlantic City 7-6-05 Education Funds lie in Budget Fine Print
     Star Ledger 7-2-05 Late Night Budget Passes
     The Record 7-2-05 State Budget Passes
     Gannet 7-2-05 State Budget and School Aid
     Asbury Park Press 6-28-05 Senate Passes $20M for 5 school districts
     Philadelphia Inquirer 6-30-05 Dueling Budgets Will Miss Deadline
     Asbury Park Press 6-30-05 No Consensus in Trenton on Spending Plan
     Trenton Times 6-30-05 School Construction Review Panel Formed
     Star Ledger 6-30-05 State Budget Finale on Hold
     Star Ledger 6-29-05 Bid to Save Tax Rebates Imperils NJ Budget
     The Record 6-29-05 Tax Plan Quitely Dying
     Trenton Times 6-25-05 State Budget and Democrat Tensions
     Star Ledger 6-17-05 Seniors want tax convention, Senate prefers Special Session
     050618 Press of Atlantic City 'Activists Look to Revisit School Funding Issue
     6-16-05 Philadelphia Inquirer Commission Librera Releases Abbott Designation Report
     Star Ledger 6-4-05 GSCS Annual Meeting Forrester & Schundler
     Assoc. Press NJ 6-10-05 Codey Brokering Deal on Tax Convention
     Star Ledger 6-14-05 Legislators Assail School Building Agency at Hearing
     Star Ledger 6-13-05 Legislators Assail School Construction Corp
     Trenton Times 6-10-05 Rebate Debate on Budget for FY06
     Star Ledger June 3 2005 Advance article, Annual Meeting noted
     Gannet on Annual Meeting 6-4-05 Forrester, Schundler Address School Concerns
     Gannet on Annual Meeting 6-4-05 Candidates Address School Concerns
     Assocated Press, In the Homestrech Forrester and Schundler Talk Education
     Class Sizes Disappoint Glen Ridge Parents
     SCC reforms underway 'Jump Starting the Effort to build New Schools' Star Ledger May26 2005.
     Trenton Times 5-24-05 Codey Plans for Less Pain in Budget
     Preliminary School Election Results from NJ Dept of Education
     Jersey Journal article
     State Health Benefit Plan Star Ledger 4-8-05
     Taxes, ire both on rise
     NJ lawmakers want the state to join education law protest
     Panel Tells of Referenda Woes
     GSCS Parent Leader Molly Emiliani-Livingston & GSCS Director Lynne Strickland present to Pennsylvania Bucks County
     Hopewell valley School Board Approves $63M Budget
     Schools will seek Extra Funding
     Rebate Panic
     Lack of funds amid surplus of concerns
     Enrollment Dip Hurts Special Schools
     Costly School Site Fiasco Spurs Assembly Measure
     Teacher Seeks Family to Fight Abbott Rulings
     Panel OKs Constitutional Convention on Tax Reform
     Jersey Halts New Pacts for School Construction
     Schools Face Enrollment, Aid Dilemma
     Cut is sought in Abbott District Aid
     Local News - Cuts plentiful in NJ budget proposal
     Amid probe, agency to cut school costs
     Acting governor faces tough sledding on deficit
     Parents Give Cody an Earful
     Courier Post Online
     Article Mt Laurel GSCS Summit 2-10-05
     Bill to loosen school budgets altered
     WNBC Interview
     Educators urge parents to fight school spending cap
     Assembly Panel Weighs Plan for a Property Tax Convention
     Tax-reform debate takes sharp turn
     School funding plan gets OK from panel
     Legislature Acts to Revamp School Spending Caps
     Educators to Argue for Repeal of Cap Law
     State must devise tests to comply with No Child Left Behind
6-12-06 News Clips
Star Ledger - Education department anxious for next boss Long transition a drag on staff and reforms Monday, June 12, 2006

New York Times - Corzine Shifts to Collegiality on the Budget 6-12-06

Star Ledger - Property tax relief is eye of Corzine's budget storm...Lawmakers seek a give & take before they back spending plan Monday, June 12, 2006

Editorial Asbury Park Press - Child placement disparity Saturday, June 10, 2006

Editorial - Crack down on perks Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 06/12/06

The Record-Preschools fail to clear teachers Monday, June 12, 2006

June 12 2006

 

Star Ledger - Education department anxious for next boss

Long transition a drag on staff and reforms

Monday, June 12, 2006

BY JOHN MOONEY

Star-Ledger Staff

On the eve of taking office in January, Gov. Jon Corzine said he would launch a nationwide search for state education commissioner, arguably the highest profile job in his cabinet.

Six months later, the process remains shrouded in secrecy.

While a search committee put forward a list of four finalists two months ago, a final decision now seems likely to go deep into summer, after the budget is passed, officials said.

In the meantime, acting Education Commissioner Lucille Davy continues to lead the department and, despite uncertainty about her tenure, is moving forward on issues such as school testing and funding.

The three other finalists are all from academia, including a former federal education official now dean at Temple University, according to several officials and others familiar with the search.

On Friday, Corzine spokesman Anthony Coley confirmed "the search process is ongoing, and we should have a decision post-budget."

The uncertainty over the next boss has taken a toll, according to people inside and outside the Department of Education. Several interviewed, who requested anonymity for fear or reprisal, said the extended transition has made it difficult to advance issues like school finance and urban school reform.

One high-ranking department official said the uncertainty has some staff wondering if their work on projects "will be all for nothing." Another said it "affects our ability to get things done, not knowing if it all could be turned upside down."

Others questioned if the salary is an impediment to filling the position. The job pays $141,000, well below what many local superintendents make. Most agreed the governor needs to move soon.

"We've been working in earnest with the commissioner on a number of serious issues," said Edwina Lee, director of the New Jersey School Boards Association. "And we're feeling a little tenuous. ... We need to know who is going to lead."

In addition to Davy, Statehouse and administration officials said the finalists include:

·  C. Kent McGuire, a Temple University dean and former U.S. assistant Secretary of Education.

·  Gary Natriello, professor of education at Columbia University's Teachers College.

·  Joseph Youngblood II, president of John S. Watson Institute for Public Policy at Thomas Edison State College and a former Trenton school official.

Davy repeatedly has refused to comment on the search process and has only said she continues to work as hard as she can.

She took over from former Commissioner William Librera when he left for a job at Rutgers University last September. Previously, she was education counsel to former Govs. James E. McGreevey and Richard Codey. Her husband is former Human Services Commissioner James Davy.

Davy has been praised for her energy and ability to move forward several projects, including plans to revamp student testing, school monitoring and school funding. She has been seen as an especially tireless and loyal cheerleader for the governor during the state's tough budget straits.

"She certainly has not been passive in her leadership role, and that has been a positive for the state," said Arnold Hyndman, president of the state Board of Education and a member of the search committee.

Another committee member said she was not troubled by the deliberative process.

"The governor is being thoughtful and diligent on this," said Joyce Powell, president of the New Jersey Education Association, the state's dominant teachers union. "This is a critically important decision."

Among finalists, McGuire most often has been mentioned as the leading candidate, even when Librera first announced his departure.

McGuire, 51, served in former President Bill Clinton's administration as an assistant secretary for educational research and improvement, and in 2003 was named dean at Temple University's College of Education. He is a member of the Moorestown school board.

Reached Friday, McGuire said he remains interested but did not want to comment on specific details of his talks with the governor.

"I have had several good conversations about the job, and I did express interest in it," he said. "There are some really tough issues facing New Jersey, but that's also what's intriguing about it."

Natriello is a professor of sociology and education at Columbia Teachers College, and is well known for his research on school standards, high-stakes testing and high school dropouts.

A Princeton resident, he also testified in 1997 in the Abbott v. Burke school equity case before the state Supreme Court, a case that continues to dominate the discourse over urban schools here.

Natriello said he didn't realize he was still in the mix, saying he was last interviewed in April by both the governor and his staff.

He said despite the state's budget woes, the commissioner post would be an attractive job for those who work closely with schools and education issues.

"There's the reality of available resources everywhere, and the key job of the commissioner is how to get the most of them," he said. "That's always interesting, and anyone involved in thinking about the operation of schools would find that an attractive challenge."

A Florida native, Youngblood has close ties to public education in the region. He now directs Thomas Edison College's Watson Institute, serving community and non-profit organizations. Before that, he was special assistant to Trenton's school superintendent, in charge of school-based programs. He could not be reached for comment Friday.

John Mooney covers education. He may be reached at (973) 392-1548 or jmooney@starledger.com.

June 12, 2006

New York Times - Corzine Shifts to Collegiality on the Budget

By RICHARD G. JONES and DAVID W. CHEN

TRENTON, June 9 — When he took office in January, Gov. Jon S. Corzine distinguished himself from most of his predecessors by avoiding the public eye and consulting largely with a small circle of friends, most of whom, like him, had few ties to Trenton.

Almost immediately, legislative leaders complained that they were not being brought into discussions on matters like preparation of the budget, and they questioned whether Mr. Corzine's largely autonomous leadership style as a Wall Street investment banker would ever catch on in Trenton.

But now, with the Legislature poised to engage more fully in considering the governor's $30.9 billion budget, State House veterans have noticed a significant shift: Mr. Corzine has begun courting the very lawmakers who had felt ignored just a few months ago.

"It hasn't been without its bumps," Assembly Speaker Joseph J. Roberts Jr., a Democrat from Camden County, said in a recent interview, "but I think people like him, they trust him and they respect him, and that's a good place to start."

On Wednesday, Mr. Corzine began a series of closed-door meetings with his Democratic colleagues, some of whom have differed with him on such important elements of his budget proposal as raising the sales tax to 7 percent from 6 percent and cutting about $169 million in aid for higher education.

Those disagreements have not always been aired discreetly. Some lawmakers have taken turns criticizing Mr. Corzine's budget plan, rolling out their own counterproposals in press releases and news conferences over the past several weeks.

In addition, some Democrats, particularly those from urban districts, were bitterly disappointed when Mr. Corzine sought — and obtained — State Supreme Court approval for freezing $160 million in financing for the neediest school districts because of budgetary constraints.

Political analysts said Mr. Corzine's latest attempts to reach out to lawmakers might be meant to deflect budget dissent in his own party as much as a recognition that the style that succeeded on Wall Street might not win friends in Trenton.

"Early on, there was some grumbling by Democrats that they had not been as fully consulted as they might have wished, that here was this autonomous figure who was coming in and telling them how things were going to be," said Brigid Harrison, a political scientist at Montclair State University. "In more recent times, it seems that he recognizes that he has to work with the Legislature. I think we see more of a conciliatory relationship."

Insiders have also noticed a change.

"He's feeling his way," Mr. Roberts said. "This is a completely different environment for him, a whole new cast of characters. He's a very bright guy, he's determined to make a difference, and I think people want him to succeed and are reaching out to him in a good way."

For his part, Mr. Corzine has played down his recent efforts. At a housing conference on Wednesday, reporters asked the governor repeatedly whether he was intensifying his sales pitch for the budget.

He answered by saying that he had conducted "10, 15 town hall meetings" on the budget.

"When you get closer to the day of reckoning, we have to make sure that there's good discussion about what the options are," Mr. Corzine said. "Most of what we see is exactly what we've been told is general procedure"

He concluded by saying, "I don't think there's too much unusual here."

Still, there can be no denying that as the June 31 deadline for ratifying the budget approaches, his relationship with legislators has reached a more collegial pitch.

Dr. Harrison, recalling that Mr. Corzine was chairman and chief executive at Goldman Sachs, said: "How is this different from his days at Goldman Sachs? What he said, they got done, and sometimes they worked all night to get it done."

A series of disagreements with the Legislature over the past few months — including Mr. Corzine's proposal for a tax on hospital beds and his suggestion to offer self-service gasoline pumps — have "gotten him used to the idea" that he is not the only one involved in decisions, Dr. Harrison said.

That idea has also been reinforced by the sharpness of Democratic legislators' opposition to some of Mr. Corzine's budget plans, which calls for instituting several new taxes that would add $1.5 billion in revenue to help close a $4 billion shortfall.

As recently as May 22, State Senator Wayne R. Bryant, a Democrat of Camden County and the influential chairman of the Budget and Appropriations Committee, issued a statement calling on Mr. Corzine to continue searching for more cuts. Asked if he would support Mr. Corzine's plan to raise the sales tax, Mr. Bryant replied: "Not today. But we're not voting today."

Early last month, another Senate Democrat, Shirley K. Turner of Mercer County, said the governor's plan to cut funds for higher education by $169 million was "draconian." And Senator Ellen Karcher, a Democrat from Monmouth County who is a strong ally of Mr. Corzine, sharply criticized the plan to tax hospital beds.

Still, although the Democrats' complaints have been pointed, legislators expect that they will be overcome in the consultations over the budget. Assemblyman Louis D. Greenwald, a Democrat of Camden County and the chairman of the Assembly Budget Committee, said such comments were part of the usual vetting process during budget season.

"This is the same process that we go through every year," Mr. Greenwald said.

Moreover, he said the governor's leadership style had not hindered his interaction with legislators. "Everybody obviously has their own unique style," he said. "I've enjoyed working with him and Brad Abelow" — the state treasurer — "very, very much. I think you're going to find it's a very smooth transition through the budget process."

Smooth or not, even Republicans have taken note of the governor's efforts to work with his legislative colleagues.

"This has been a tremendous learning curve for him, even though he's been in politics," said Assemblyman Joseph R. Malone, a Republican from Burlington County. "State politics is far, far different from federal politics. At times, it gets more personal, and I have to give him a little bit of the benefit of the doubt."

In that spirit, perhaps, Mr. Malone warned against reading too much into disputes over the budget.

"You're going to start seeing a lot of scrambling and a lot of posturing," he said. "It's not about the people running around at the supermarket. It's what the meal looks like at the end of the cooking."

 

Star Ledger - Property tax relief is eye of Corzine's budget storm

Lawmakers seek a give and take before they back spending plan

Monday, June 12, 2006

BY JOE DONOHUE

Star-Ledger Staff

James E. McGreevey's first budget was nearly hijacked by last-minute maneuvering over the Newark arena.

Richard Codey's first budget was the latest ever signed, after Democrats nearly punched each other out in heated back-room talks.

Now comes crunch time for Gov. Jon Corzine's first spending plan. And there is lots to argue about -- most notably the Democratic governor's plan to raise the sales tax, impose a new hospital tax and make major cuts in funding for colleges and universities -- before the budget deadline at the end of this month.

This year, the battle over Corzine's $30.9 billion budget proposal is complicated by an even more vexing struggle: how to reduce property taxes, an issue lawmakers last week announced they will begin work on in July.

Some lawmakers who are jittery about Corzine's plan to raise the sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent say they'd sign onto it only if there was a plan to simultaneously reduce property taxes. Last year, homeowners' tax bills averaged nearly $5,900 -- up 29 percent in four years.

"If I've got to do a tax increase, it's going toward tax relief," said Assemblyman Gerald Green (D-Union).

Assembly Democrats soon will propose new spending cuts and revenue sources as an alternative to raising the sales tax, Assembly Budget Committee Chairman Louis Greenwald (D-Camden) said.

Last year, and earlier this year, there had been some talk among state officials of extending the sales tax to professionals like lawyers, accountants, doctors and others. That could raise as much as $2 billion, according to preliminary estimates.

However, because of the potentially huge payoff, lawmakers would like to keep that option available for property tax relief, Greenwald said. He said that alternative is not receiving serious consideration for the budget at this point.

'While everything is being considered, that is something that as of now is not being researched or discussed," he said. "None of the recurring revenues that are being proposed" would be raised by taxing professionals, he said.

Greenwald said Assembly Democrats also want to get rid of the plan for a tax on hospital beds and restore proposed cuts to higher education.

"Nothing's dead. Everything remains on the table," Greenwald said. "It still comes down to a game of dollars and cents. We have to have enough dollars to satisfy the mandatory programs."

And it all has to be worked out before the new budget year begins July 1.

Last year, Assembly Democrats proposed nearly $500 million in cuts and $550 million in business taxes to persuade Codey to scrap his plan to cut taxpayer rebates. Codey rejected most of the proposals but did find enough money to provide $350 rebates for nearly 1.8 million non-senior homeowners.

Administration officials and some lawmakers privately doubt there is a realistic way to balance the budget without the higher sales tax. Including extensions to currently untaxed services also recommended by Corzine, it would raise about $1.5 billion and cost the average family about $260 annually.

In recent comments, Corzine said he hasn't heard "one question" about the sales tax during several town meetings. "It doesn't mean people are happy about it because they're not."

"But people are concerned about the cuts to the disabled, they're concerned about the cuts to higher education ... they're concerned about things that will impact their ability to take care of their families," he said. "They know we have a problem and it needs to be corrected."

Treasurer Bradley Abelow said one of the administration's main concerns in negotiations with legislators is that nothing be done to make next year's budget hole deeper. Abelow contends even with the sales tax increase, the state will have to close a gap of at least $2 billion next year.

Corzine said in his March budget address that he wants no more than $500 million in "one-shot" revenues. Nor will he consider any additional tax increases, such as an income tax surtax or higher corporate taxes.

Many legislators would like to reduce by half or more the $1.1 billion increase Corzine is seeking for the state's under-funded pension system. The governor recently said he would be extremely reluctant to do so given the fund's dire long-term outlook.

Corzine has dismissed as unrealistic a proposal by Green, Assemblyman Paul Moriarty (D-Gloucester) and Sen. Steven Sweeney (D-Gloucester) to reopen state worker contracts and get $700 million in salary and benefit give-backs from the unions.

"He doesn't like my offer? Well, I don't like his," Sweeney said.

Corzine met with legislative leaders last Wednesday to begin seeking compromises, but it was clear they have a long way to go.

"I don't think there's any consensus on anything at this juncture," Senate Budget Committee Chairman Wayne Bryant (D-Camden) said.

Democrats are feeling heat over the sales tax from Republicans and from groups like Americans for Prosperity. Founded by Bogota Mayor Steven Lonegan, an unsuccessful Republican gubernatorial contender last year, it has begun running $100,000 worth of television and radio ads calling on five Democratic senators from so-called "swing" districts to oppose the tax hike. Lonegan's group plans a Statehouse rally June 24.

Looming in the background is the issue of property taxes. Last Tuesday, Assembly Speaker Joseph Roberts (D-Camden) and Senate President Codey (D-Essex) announced they will hold a special session this summer and convene several study committees to draw up plans for major property tax reform.

Assemblyman Kevin O'Toole (R-Essex), the Republican chairman in Essex County, said they'd better come up with something quick. He said the public is starting to realize that after five years of Democratic control, property taxes are still rising and driving an increasing number of homeowners out of state.

"You can't pass the buck anymore. You can't point to the past," O'Toole said. "If there isn't significant meaningful property tax reform, you are going to see a lot of incumbent assemblymen and senators lose their elections next year and that's just an inescapable fact."

Josh Margolin contributed to this report. Joe Donohue covers state government and politics. He may be reached at jdonohue@starledger.com or (609) 989-0208.

 

Editorial 6-10-06

 

 

Asbury Pk Press/Editorial - Child placement disparity

Saturday, June 10, 2006

The facts were startlingly simple. White preschoolers with disabilities were sent to a highly re garded private program for special education, while not a single black or Hispanic student was deemed a good candidate for the school, even though these students had virtually identical diagnosis and treatment plans.

Worse yet, black and Hispanic students were far more likely to end up in half-day programs or programs that extended over a shorter period of the year, while white students received full-day school for more months out of the year.

Alerted to the disturbing pattern in the Lakewood school district by the American Civil Liberties Union, the state Education Department launched an investigation that concluded the situation constituted discrimination. State authorities told Lakewood officials to take corrective action by July 31.

Under federal law, 3- and 4-year-olds with disabilities are entitled to preschool education paid for by the local district. As with older children, the schooling may take place in district or at a private school. Non-public schools are eligible for taxpayer money provided they are willing to take all children regardless of race or religion.

Where a child goes is determined by a child study team working with parents. In Lakewood, the school district says Orthodox Jewish families, which make up a substantial part of the community, fre quently requested placement in the School for Children with Hidden Intelligence. African- American and Hispanic families didn't.

Even so, it is the obligation of the district to direct children to the most appropriate placement. The disparity in placement suggests that didn't occur, the state investigation concluded.

The Lakewood case, however, highlights a troubling as pect of how New Jersey school districts provide help for children who require special education. Parents who are well schooled in the process can manipulate it, while those less well versed find their children have less than ideal placements. There is no reason to believe that such a situation is unique to Lakewood.

 

Editorial - Crack down on perks

Posted by the Asbury Park Press on 06/12/06

Gov. Corzine last week vetoed the perk-laden contract of Camden school superintendent Annette D. Knox. He was able to do so because the school district is under state supervision.

Unfortunately, Corzine has no authority over administrator contracts in districts not subject to direct state control. A state Senate committee cleared a bill Thursday that would provide more transparency and accountability in negotiating contracts with school administrators, but it deferred action on two others. One would cap school administrators' supplemental pay for sick time at $15,000. Another would establish uniform standards for contracts for top administrators and guarantee public access to those contracts. Both should be approved by the Legislature and signed into law.

Many of the provisions in Knox's contract Corzine found to be objectionable are common throughout the state. The compensation abuses of school administrators were well documented in a report released by the State Commission of Investigation in March. The SCI offered several recommendations. Among them: imposing statewide caps on the number of allowable sick and vacation days, restricting how many of these days can be carried over and cashed in, requiring strict adherence to pension calculation rules so extra compensation or extra job titles don't inflate the administrator's salary for pension purposes, and prohibiting reimbursement for opting out of group health insurance.

No one can blame school administrators for trying to negotiate the best possible contract. But taxpayers deserve to have school boards that negotiate hard on their behalf. Too many boards have not. As a consequence, the Legislature must intervene.

 

The Record-Preschools fail to clear teachers
Monday, June 12, 2006





Special Report: Lessons in Waste

Teachers and other employees have been allowed to work at state-funded preschools even when no evidence exists that required background checks have been done, The Record has found.

The checks, designed to prevent criminals and child abusers from working with children, are frequently incomplete or missing, according to records provided by the state.

"I've tried to highlight this as an issue that demands immediate attention," said Gordon MacInnes, the assistant education commissioner in charge. "My ideal world is nobody works until the process has run its course and they have a clean sign-off from the fingerprint check. Apparently that's not always possible."

New Jersey relies on 500 private day-care centers to serve disadvantaged children, who are entitled to free preschool under the state Supreme Court's Abbott v. Burke ruling. Taxpayers have spent $2.5 billion on the landmark program since it began in 1999. About 38,000 children are enrolled, two-thirds in the private centers and the rest in public schools.

At every licensed day-care center in the state, employees are required to submit their fingerprints for a review by the FBI and New Jersey State Police. Employees are also required to have state child abuse records searched to determine if an incident of abuse or neglect has ever been substantiated.

But at the private centers, audits show, that doesn't always happen. In some cases, auditors found staff never applied for the checks. Other times, employees had submitted paperwork, but background checks were not completed -- sometimes for months.

Last year, proof that every required check had been completed was missing at 24 out of the 31 school districts that are governed by the court order. Audits at the preschools found that 30 of 68 centers were missing checks. The year before, 25 school districts were missing proof of the checks.

The executive director at Martin House Learning Center in Trenton, for instance, had not applied for a criminal history or child abuse records check. At Harmony Education & Life Partners in Irvington, there was no proof eight employees had criminal background checks, or that nine had child abuse records checks.

And in Vineland, employees at the YMCA were not fingerprinted, an audit of the 2004-05 school year found. Instead, the center was using the so-called "Hire Right System," which only uses Social Security numbers and birth dates to check for offenses and convictions.

"The system is subject to error and appears to be an unreliable source," auditors wrote in April.

MacInnes says his department has stressed the importance of the criminal and child-abuse reviews and is "finding a much lower incidence" of missing checks. He said he had increased monitoring and personally called school superintendents when "I've seen something that really frightened me."

"On this issue we've gone from zero to 80 on a 100-point scale," MacInnes said.

The preschool program has been plagued with management problems at the private day-care centers. An investigation by The Record in April found that centers have flagrantly misspent public money but continue to receive preschool contracts that pay $14,000 per child, on average, per year.

Conflicting rules set by the two state agencies involved -- the departments of Human Services and Education -- have hindered the program's financial accountability. The rules also don't match up when it comes to background checks.

The Human Services Department, which licenses day-care centers, allows employees to work with children while background checks are being processed, as long as another staff member is present. There is no time limit on how long an employee can work without having a completed check.

The Abbott preschool contract, written by the Education Department, requires criminal checks to be completed before the program begins, and states that employees without those checks must be immediately removed. Public school employees also may not begin working until a criminal background check is complete.

However, the contract also says centers must follow the Human Services rules. Education officials said they have met several times with Human Services.

"We are very concerned with any inconsistencies there may be, and we hope to work with the Legislature to assess and identify areas where we may want to enhance the law," said Sue Esterman, spokeswoman for the Human Services Department.

It's up to the day-care centers to ensure that all employees are cleared. Employee files are reviewed for the checks by Human Services every three years when a center's license is renewed; the state child abuse checks are redone for all staff at that time. Last year, 16,820 day-care center employees had criminal history checks and 14 were disqualified, according to the Human Services Department.

School districts contract with private centers to run preschool classes and are supposed to ensure that checks are complete. But district officials said they have contended with widespread confusion.

"They would show us that they had the papers saying there was an appointment [for fingerprinting]," said Pat Bryant, early childhood supervisor for Jersey City Public Schools, which has opted to follow the stricter rule. "But the employee still can't work. You have to have the results."

But many centers didn't follow the rules, or never received final clearance.

"There were long lapses ... in some cases I know it was months," said Bryant.

Four state auditing offices have reviewed select preschools' personnel files in recent years. In a report published last month, New Jersey State Auditor Richard L. Fair wrote that missing background checks were a "common finding" at the private centers.

In a 2003 report, Fair's office sampled 239 employee files and found that one-third had "no evidence" of criminal background checks. The office also reviewed another 167 files for child abuse checks, and found that nearly one in five "lacked evidence" of those checks.

The Record examined internal audits from the 2003-04 school year in Paterson, Jersey City and Newark, and found that 126 criminal or child abuse checks were missing or incomplete at 14 preschools.

State audits also mentioned instances where preschools were hiring workers by the day for menial jobs. One Jersey City provider told reporters that he had hired "street people" on multiple occasions.

At New Life Childcare Center in Newark, a substitute teacher couldn't cash his own paychecks because he didn't have two proper forms of identification or a bank account. He had no personnel file -- and no proof of proper teaching credentials and background checks.

E-mail: carroll@northjersey.com and rimbach@northjersey.com