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GARDEN STATE COALITION OF SCHOOLS/GSCS
EMAILNET 7-31-07
GSCS on State’s School Funding Formula Process
GSCS Quick Fact: There is no August Board of Trustees Meeting … the next Board of Trustees meeting will be held September 26, 2007 3:30 at the East Brunswick Board of Education. For 2007-2008 GSCS Calendar, click on ‘Board Information’ link on sidebar/left. GSCS continues its work on its own school funding ‘white paper’ ….
GSCS on Current ‘Holding Pattern’ Status of School Funding Formula discussion
The Department of Education has been holding ‘stakeholder’ meetings that are ‘topic-oriented’ to some of the issues inherent in a school funding formula. To date these meetings have been
(1) Review of costing-out study process/April,
(2) Transportation (while property taxes had been listed as a topic, that discussed was removed from the table on the day of the meeting. So far, there is no reschedule for a discussion on property taxes, one of the central issues in a school funding formula),
(3) Charter schools, Choice, and Vo-Techs, and
(4) early childhood education.
Summary: These meetings allow for a limited discussion of the issues as presented by the Commissioner and staff; at this point, they have not garnered the give-and-take hard conversation that is needed to move the formula discussion forward to practical bill form. In addition, when talk is centered on the part without a real picture or idea of the whole, there is no sense of having an exchange that is ‘grounded’ in reality. Until this next step occurs there remains a sense of the potential for a formula being delayed, certainly until past the November elections, but further, into another year(s). While the Governor continues to reiterate his commitment to enacting a new formula by the end of the year, in lame duck session, there are repeated signals from legislators that this will not happen.
Schools, and their towns, are now entering the 7th year without a predictable, stable and fair system of school aid. Let your newspaper editors, your legislators, this fall’s candidates for legislative office and the Governor know what your feelings are about this continued postponement that demonstrates lack of regard for quality public education – and community stability via local property tax overreliance - by the leadership of the state of New Jersey.
On the GSCS homepage today, for details, go to www.gscschools.org
8-2-07 Editorial 'Reliance on property taxes must be fixed'
Courier Post - Reliance on property taxes must be fixed "...Our elected officials in Trenton -- Gov. Jon Corzine and legislators -- have to make fixing the school-funding formula their top priority. If they don't, this state's oppressive property taxes will continue to drive people away from New Jersey. What's happening in Haddon Heights will continue to happen in other communities across the s'tate.
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ANOTHER BIG CAMPAIGN ISSUE - A NEW SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA
By David Rebovich - July 5, 2007 on Politicsnj.com 9:26am "...Governor Jon Corzine sees the practice (asset monetization) as a way to rescue state government...However, no matter what happens with asset monetization, there's another big issue that lawmakers may also not deal with until addressing until after the election, and citizens should be concerned about this as well. That issue is a new school funding formula..."
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PDF listing wtih 2008 legislative candidate addresses found at NJ Div of Elections Website
NJ STATE ASSEMBLY CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 2007 BALLOT: http://www.nj.gov/oag/elections/2007results/07primary-election/07-primary-election-general-assembly-candidate-tallies-6.6.07.pdf
NJ STATE SENATE CANDIDATES RUNNING FOR ELECTION ON NOVEMBER 2007 BALLOT: http://www.nj.gov/oag/elections/2007results/07primary-election/07-primary-election-state-senate-candidates-tallies-6.6.07.pdf
These lists are from the NJ Division of Elections website. The list of candidates are winners of the June 07 primary elections.
*Denotes Incumbents.
Lists found at: NJ DIVISION OF ELECTIONS - WEBSITE PDFs LISTS LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES FOR 2008 office; ADDRESSS INFORMATION INCLUDED. http://www.nj.gov/oag/elections/2007results/2007-primaryelectionunofficial_results.html
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GSCS ADVOCACY PACKET re NEED FOR NEW SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA NOW
Click on More below to see GSCS PARENT AND COMMUNITY ACTION PACKET on the need for the state to fulfill its stated commitment to bring forth a new school funding formula that can improve the educational and financial well-being for schools and communities throught New Jersey. Included in the packet is an explanation about the 'why' a new formula is needed, as well as a sample letter-to-the-editor (for local and statewide newspapers), and a letter to legislators/and legislative candidates. FOR YOUR CONVENIENCE, AT THE LINK ON THE SIDEBAR "FIND YOUR LEGISLATOR" THERE IS A LISTING OF LEGISLATIVE CANDIDATES, INCUMBENTS AND NON-INCUMBENTS, THAT ARE RUNNING FOR OFFICE THIS NOVEMBER.Remember - all elected offices are open this fall in both the state Senate and Assembly. Those seeking election need to hear your concerns and to respond those concerns during their campaigns. Tell GSCS of your feedback and we will track the responses. Take advantage of this opportunity to be heard. YOUR VOICES ARE NEEDED!
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COUNCIL ON LOCAL MANDATES 'ELIMINATES' DOE spec ed 'AGE SPAN' reg 7-26
IN THE MATTER OF COMPLAINTS FILED BY THE SPECIAL SERVICES SCHOOL DISTRICTS OF
BURLINGTON, ATLANTIC, CAPE MAY, AND BERGEN COUNTIES
Council on Local Mandates
...(“Claimants”) filed Complaints with the Council contending that a Department of Education regulation, N.J.A.C. 6A:14-4.7(a)(2), violates the constitutional prohibition against new unfunded mandates, Article VIII, Section 2, paragraph 5 of the New Jersey Constitution, as codified in the Local Mandates Act (“LMA”). The challenged regulation reduces the maximum age span in elementary school special education classes from four years to three, which Claimants allege will require them to incur additional direct expense for new teachers, classrooms and supplies...
[17] As a result of the within decision, the claims raised in the six Complaints held by the Council in abeyance (see footnote 2 above) are rendered moot and are hereby dismissed, with no need for further proceedings pursuant to Rule 9 of the Council’s Rules of Procedure.
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UPDATED - GSCS Membership Questions, FAQ's etc., see 'Board Information' sidebar left
8-1-07 'Paterson isn't ready to gain control' & 7-29 'The Numbers still don't add up'
STAR LEDGER - 8-1-07 Grim report indicates Paterson isn't ready to regain school control More than 15 years after the state takeover of Paterson schools, the district still has problems in its bookkeeping, cannot ensure teachers are properly certified and, until this year, didn't have an updated curriculum...And that's the appraisal from the state itself.
7-29-07 'The numbers still don't add up' ... "In spite of major changes, three Newark schools fall short of federal (NCLB) requirements..."
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7-27-07 Retiree health costs 'time bomb'
The Record - Retiree health costs 'time bomb' for N.J. "If New Jersey taxpayers had to pay off the cost of health benefits for retired state workers and teachers in one fell swoop today, the bill would ring up at $58 billion. But look on the bright side: It's a lot less than the $78 billion that was previously estimated..."
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7-26-07 Education Law Center on school funding reform via is subgroup report
This report by ELC's 'Our Children Our Schools' group is a good summary of the current status of Trenton and school funding formula issues and questions. However, GSCS notes that the concluding statement that it is better to get it (a formula) right, rather than fast is too simple a statement that skims over the complexity of the issue. In good faith, GSCS disagrees. Regular operating districts have not had the stability, funding, nor predictability of formula implementation since FY02. In order to actually get a formula in place, the legislature has to have a bill (proposed legislation)in hand before there can be any real viable and productive discussion on the Trenton's table. All that will indeed take time too before a final formula compromise is reached and effected. Delaying that debate in legislative form, especially post the 2008 elections, will likely put off any formula implementation for another couple of years. That would mean that NJ could be without a school funding formula for at least 8 years. The process needs to step up and it can be done.
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7-25-07 NY Times '2 NJ school districts regain some local control'
"After more than a decade under state control, the Newark and Jersey City public schools have improved enough to be allowed to take back some of their fiscal and management operations as a first step toward regaining local control, state education officials said yesterday..." "...Shelley Skinner, a Jersey City parent who in the spring started an advocacy group for better schools, said she was disappointed by the news..."
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7-25-07 Debate over School Tests
Star Ledger - Debate over school tests: What's being left behind? Focus on math, reading may hurt other subjects
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Recent education Research articles of note from Public Educ Network
"PUBLIC SCHOOLS MUST BE HELD ACCOUNTABLE, AMERICANS SAY Americans believe public schools must be held accountable for properly educating children and give the No Child Left BehindAct (NCLB) high marks for its goals, but also think NCLB needs dramatic changes.....The public voice must be part of th process used by policymakers if they want to be trusted on behalf of the nation's children."
HOW SCHOOLS GET IT RIGHT Whether they are in wealthy or poor neighborhoods, schools with lots of high-scoring students share certain characteristics. They have experienced teachers who stay for years, reports Liz Bowie in the Baltimore Sun, and they offer extracurricular activities after school. Sometimes, they have many students in gifted-and-talented classes working with advanced material. These are the schools that families looking for a great public education will seek out and move close to because students are achieving far beyond the basic levels set by state and federal laws.
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