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1-20-10 'N.J. files application for federal Race to the Top education money'
"New Jersey completed its application today for a share of $4.35 billion in federal Race to the Top education funding with 378 of the state’s 591 school districts signing on to the bid — but without the support of most of the state’s teachers unions...Only 21 of the state’s local teachers unions backed the effort to win up to $400 million in the competitive grant, according to a spokesman for the state Department of Education..."

N.J. files application for federal 'Race To The Top' education money

By Star-Ledger Staff

January 19, 2010, 6:50PM

New Jersey completed its application today for a share of $4.35 billion in federal Race to the Top education funding with 378 of the state’s 591 school districts signing on to the bid — but without the support of most of the state’s teachers unions.

 

Only 21 of the state’s local teachers unions backed the effort to win up to $400 million in the competitive grant, according to a spokesman for the state Department of Education.

 

Race to the Top aims to reward states for bold education improvement plans, including tying teacher evaluations in part to student achievement and revamping poor-performing schools. Showing support from school districts and teachers unions is key to the application; without that buy-in New Jersey’s bid could suffer.

 

The New Jersey Education Association, the state’s largest teachers union, had recommended its local unions not sign on, objecting to grant provisions that link teacher pay and evaluations to student performance. The NJEA also questioned how programs would be paid for when the grant money ends, as well as the emphasis on charter schools. Local unions had the option to sign on, however.

All but a handful of the state’s local unions are part of the NJEA.

 

Read the full list of the school districts and charter schools that signed MOUs to participate in New Jersey's Race to the Top application

 

he Newark teachers union, an affiliate of the American Federation of Teachers, agreed to back the state’s application. The union said it will negotiate later on how to handle issues such as teacher evaluations and compensation and student test scores. The Newark district also signed on.

 

"We’d like to see the district move ahead, like to see New Jersey get the money," said Joseph Del Grosso, president of the Newark Teachers Union, which represents 5,000 district employees.

Gov. Chris Christie, who was inaugurated today, has criticized the NJEA for its stance, and his transition team worked with the state Department of Education on preparing the application.

Among the school districts who signed memorandums of understanding supporting the application were some of New Jersey’s largest; Newark, Paterson and Jersey City.
Many districts supporting the effort said it was difficult to turn down a shot at more funding.

"It represents a monetary opportunity. In this day and age, it’s kind of difficult, if there’s funds available, not to try to acquire them," Perth Amboy Superintendent John Rodecker said.

Many districts also said they agreed with Race to the Top goals such as creating standards and assessments that better prepare students for the future; using data to improve instruction; finding and keeping quality teachers and principals, and revamping struggling schools.

"If they’re going to develop new data systems and put that data in the hands of teachers easier than we do right now, I think that would be great," said Alan Fegley, superintendent of the Haddonfield school district in Camden County. "If some of the work is going to be to develop quality teachers and administrators, I think that’s important to be part of as well."

 

But garnering support from the local unions proved difficult.

 

Paterson Education Association President Peter Tirri said he was concerned not only about linking teachers’ evaluations and pay to test scores, but also to provisions such as additional time for staff and students. He said he worried the initiatives could become an "unfunded mandate."

"If there’s additional time, we would expect to negotiate for additional compensation," said Tirri, whose union represents 3,600 employees. "In four years ... if Race to the Top goes by the wayside, the district is left with that bill."

 

The Ridgewood School District in Bergen County declined to support the state’s application, concerned it may have to fund some of the grant’s initiatives on its own, Superintendent Daniel Fishbein said.

 

Most states will not win funding in the first round of the two-phase competition, according to the U.S.

Department of Education. One deadline was today; the other is in June. If states apply in Phase 1 and are denied, they can reapply. First-round winners are expected to be announced in April.

Meanwhile, President Obama said today he will ask Congress for an additional $1.35 billion in next year’s budget to extend the Race to the Top program.

By Kristen Alloway and Jeanette Rundquist