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The Record ‘Bill allowing higher ed institutions to regulate charter schools clears 1st hurdle’ "...Judith Wilson, superintendent of Princeton Regional Schools, called it “taxation without representation” because local school districts do not have a say. State Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer), the lone no vote, said she was skeptical of a bill that would expand charter schools..."
Nj.com ‘N.J. parents will get to see teacher evaluations online’
Northjersey.com ‘Out-of town students coming to GR schools?
Nj.com ‘N.J. parents will get to see teacher evaluations online’
The Record ‘Bill allowing higher ed institutions to regulate charter schools clears 1st hurdle’
Thursday, September 23, 2010
BY MATT FRIEDMAN
State House Bureau
STATE HOUSE BUREAU
A bill that would allow higher educational institutions to authorize and regulate charter schools cleared its first legislative hurdle today.
Under current law, the state Department of Education is the only entity with the authority to give the ok to establish charters and to monitor them. The bill (S-2198), sponsored by state Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex), would allow four year higher educational institutions to apply to become an authorizer with the Department of Education.
The bill cleared the Senate Education Committee by a vote of 4 to 1.
Proponents of the bill said it would help an overburdened Department of Education by spreading the responsibility of overseeing charter schools to others.
“Perhaps the accountability component has not been there as best as it can be,” said Ruiz.
But some officials from high performing, suburban school districts said allowing charter schools in districts where there is no need for them creates a burden for schools, who have to cut money out of the regular schools’ budget to fund them.
Judith Wilson, superintendent of Princeton Regional Schools, called it “taxation without representation” because local school districts do not have a say.
State Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer), the lone no vote, said she was skeptical of a bill that would expand charter schools because many in her legislative district had already failed.
“They want to expedite and accelerate the approval of charter schools,” said Turner. “And of course that’s not comforting to me when I’ve seen a 50 percent failure rate in my district.”
A bill that would allow higher educational institutions to authorize and regulate charter schools cleared its first legislative hurdle today.
Under current law, the state Department of Education is the only entity with the authority to give the ok to establish charters and to monitor them. The bill (S-2198), sponsored by state Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex), would allow four year higher educational institutions to apply to become an authorizer with the Department of Education.
The bill cleared the Senate Education Committee by a vote of 4 to 1.
Proponents of the bill said it would help an overburdened Department of Education by spreading the responsibility of overseeing charter schools to others.
“Perhaps the accountability component has not been there as best as it can be,” said Ruiz.
But some officials from high performing, suburban school districts said allowing charter schools in districts where there is no need for them creates a burden for schools, who have to cut money out of the regular schools’ budget to fund them.
Judith Wilson, superintendent of Princeton Regional Schools, called it “taxation without representation” because local school districts do not have a say.
State Sen. Shirley Turner (D-Mercer), the lone no vote, said she was skeptical of a bill that would expand charter schools because many in her legislative district had already failed.
“They want to expedite and accelerate the approval of charter schools,” said Turner. “And of course that’s not comforting to me when I’ve seen a 50 percent failure rate in my district.”
Northjersey.com ‘Out-of town students coming to GR schools?
Thursday, September 23, 2010 BY ERIN ROLL Glen Ridge Voice
Students can now attend school across district lines, under an inter-district program that became permanent last week.
Gov. Chris Christie has signed the Inter-district Public School Choice Program Act into law, the culmination of a program that began a decade ago.
The new measure allows students to attend school in another district if they so choose, provided the receiving or "choice" district has enough room and has elected to receive outside students.
Dr. John Mucciolo, Glen Ridge schools superintendent, said the board of education (BOE) has yet to discuss the matter in full.
Mucciolo says the Glen Ridge schools have reached enrollment capacity, and would be unlikely to accept out-of-town transfers.
"We're full right now," Mucciolo said. "All our classes are full, and I don't see how we could accommodate any outside students."
"I think it's an interesting initiative," said BOE President Betsy Ginsburg, noting that the program came up during a meeting of Essex County superintendents and BOE representatives last week.
Ginsburg agreed that the borough schools lack space for transfer students at present, yet could eventually accommodate them if space is found.
"The good thing for all districts is that we all have a choice about participating," Ginsburg said.
A district could export 10 percent of students from each grade level, or 15 percent of the student body. The policy would be subject to the sending district's fiscal conditions and operations, and the need to maintain district diversity.
New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) spokesman Steve Baker said the association has not taken an official position on the act.
The New Jersey Association of School Boards (NJSBA) favors the policy, NJSBA representative Mike Yaple said Thursday: "The recently enacted legislation…will permit participation by a greater number of school districts in the program," Yaple said via e-mail.
On the subject of school choice, Yaple said the NJSBA supports charter schools, magnet schools and inter-district programs but is against vouchers or any other effort to channel public money to private schools.
New Jersey enacted its first inter-district pilot program in 1999. Ten districts were allowed to accept transfer students, with 96 students eventually participating.
E-mail: roll@northjersey.com
Students can now attend school across district lines, under an inter-district program that became permanent last week.
Gov. Chris Christie has signed the Inter-district Public School Choice Program Act into law, the culmination of a program that began a decade ago.
The new measure allows students to attend school in another district if they so choose, provided the receiving or "choice" district has enough room and has elected to receive outside students.
Dr. John Mucciolo, Glen Ridge schools superintendent, said the board of education (BOE) has yet to discuss the matter in full.
Mucciolo says the Glen Ridge schools have reached enrollment capacity, and would be unlikely to accept out-of-town transfers.
"We're full right now," Mucciolo said. "All our classes are full, and I don't see how we could accommodate any outside students."
"I think it's an interesting initiative," said BOE President Betsy Ginsburg, noting that the program came up during a meeting of Essex County superintendents and BOE representatives last week.
Ginsburg agreed that the borough schools lack space for transfer students at present, yet could eventually accommodate them if space is found.
"The good thing for all districts is that we all have a choice about participating," Ginsburg said.
A district could export 10 percent of students from each grade level, or 15 percent of the student body. The policy would be subject to the sending district's fiscal conditions and operations, and the need to maintain district diversity.
New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) spokesman Steve Baker said the association has not taken an official position on the act.
The New Jersey Association of School Boards (NJSBA) favors the policy, NJSBA representative Mike Yaple said Thursday: "The recently enacted legislation…will permit participation by a greater number of school districts in the program," Yaple said via e-mail.
On the subject of school choice, Yaple said the NJSBA supports charter schools, magnet schools and inter-district programs but is against vouchers or any other effort to channel public money to private schools.
New Jersey enacted its first inter-district pilot program in 1999. Ten districts were allowed to accept transfer students, with 96 students eventually participating.
E-mail: roll@northjersey.com
Nj.com ‘N.J. parents will get to see teacher evaluations online’
September 23, 2010, 10:10AM
TRENTON — Parents in New Jersey will soon get to see teacher evaluations online. The names of the teachers won't be included. Instead, districts must show ratings categories and how many teachers are in each group. Districts must do the same for principals if they have more than 10. Deputy Education Commissioner Willa Spicer told The Record newspaper disclosing the... Full story »
