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Star Ledger - N.J. high school graduation rate is highest in the nation, review says
Star Ledger - Gov. Christie criticizes N.J. Supreme Court, responds to questions on his education reform plan
Star Ledger - N.J. high school graduation rate is highest in the nation, review says
Published: Tuesday, June 07, 2011, 9:00 PM Updated: Wednesday, June 08, 2011, 6:14 AM
By Jessica Calefati/The Star-LedgerThe Star-Ledger
awards diplomas to 87 percent of its high school students, making the state’s graduation rate the highest in the nation, an annual review released today shows.
Between 1998 and 2008, the state increased its pool of high school graduates by 11.1 percent, reflecting a national trend of graduation rate growth that took hold during the 2007-2008 school year, the Diplomas Count 2011 report found.
But the Christie administration quickly warned the state’s number of high school graduates will likely decline once a more rigorous, federally mandated method for calculating the statistic takes effect next fall.
"We have excellent school programs and teachers who are doing a great job in helping our students graduate," acting Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf said in a statement. "However, it is important that we know if our students are truly college-ready by generating more comprehensive and transparent data."
The figure calculated by the report’s authors falls 6 percentage points below the 93 percent graduation rate the state Department of Education published for the 2007-2008 school year. The report’s methodology reflects the type of rigorous standards Cerf calls for, according to Editorial Projects in Education Research Center, a nonprofit organization based in Bethesda, Md.
Cerf could not be reached to discuss the apparent discrepancy.
But in his statement today, the education commissioner cited the high rate of first-time students at community colleges in Bergen, Union and Essex counties who must take remedial math and English courses as proof the state must do more to prepare its high school students for college and career.
"We are very proud of our graduation rate, but other studies show that we still have much work to do," Cerf said.
The New Jersey Education Association fired back at the Christie administration for recasting a positive report about the state’s public schools into a condemnation, calling Cerf’s response to the report a "broken record."
"The cup is always half-empty with this administration," said Steve Wollmer, a spokesman for the state’s largest teachers union. "Their agenda is to privatize education, and they never miss an opportunity to demean the achievements of our public schools, even when the criticism is unfounded."
Stan Karp, director of secondary reform at the nonprofit Newark-based Education Law Center, said New Jersey’s standing in the graduation rate report is "basically good news," despite the Christie administration’s comments. Only four other states had greater graduation rate increases than New Jersey over the 10 years of data the report’s authors studied.
"I think we have had a narrative of failure coming from the administration that these statistics contradict," Karp said.
He pointed out that New Jersey is also doing better than other states on achievement-gap issues: The state boasts the highest graduation rate among Hispanic and African-American students.
Assembly Education Committee Chairman Patrick Diegnan (D-Middlesex) reflected the teachers union’s frustration with Cerf’s response to the data and said the Christie administration must stop its campaign to convince state residents their public schools are failing.
"When I drive around the state and talk to parents and other citizens of the Garden State, they are not surprised by the success of our schools," Diegnan said. "It’s sad that the governor and our education commissioner designee do not share that same knowledge."
Staff writer Jeanette Rundquist contributed to this report.
Star Ledger - Gov. Christie criticizes N.J. Supreme Court, responds to questions on his education reform plan
Published: Tuesday, June 07, 2011, 5:12 PM Updated: Tuesday, June 07, 2011, 5:13 PM
TOMS RIVER — Gov. Chris Christie held his 19th town hall meeting this afternoon, deriding the state Supreme Court and answering questions about his education overhaul proposals.
Christie said that in July he and Education Commissioner Chris Cerf will begin working on a new education funding formula, in response to the state Supreme Court ruling that ordered him to put more funding into the state's poorest school districts.
Christie said after he and Cerf put together a new formula, he will have to get it approved by the Democrat-controlled Legislature.
"If you all come out and turn out for the Republicans this fall, maybe I'll have a Republican legislature," Christie said, getting cheers from the receptive town hall crowd.
Christie continued his criticism for the state Supreme Court for what he called "tinkering" with the education funding formula, including calling Associate Justice Barry Albin out by name.
"He is the symbol of what is wrong with the Supreme Court," Christie said.
He often ties getting a Republican legislature to changing the court.
"A lot of these things are going to be subject to review by the Supreme Court which so far has considered itself above us," Christie said.
While Christie called on the town hall members to elect a Republican legislature, he didn't mention any of the primary races being waged today by name. There were no contested primaries in Toms River or the surrounding large towns.
