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GSCS EMAILNET 9-29-08 GSCS PRIORITY - PRESCHOOL EXPANSION - CONCERNS… Sign up - OCT 7th FORUM AT RUTGERS on Special education best practices and funding to support
GSCS EMAILNET 9-29-08
GSCS PRIORITY - PRESCHOOL EXPANSION - CONCERNS…
Sign up - OCT 7th FORUM AT RUTGERS on
Special education practices and funding
GSCS BOARD OF TRUSTEES FLAGS PRESCHOOL MANDATE CONCERNS AS IMMEDIATE PRIORITY
We need your help.
GSCS asks you to let us know particular issues your district and your students may be faced with under the new preschool expansion regulations that came out on the fast track recently.
At its 9-24-08 Board meeting, the GSCS Board noted a number of concerns and issues that are arising out of the preschool expansion initiative. These issues indicate unintended consequences may result if this program is implemented too hastily. Better to slow down and get it right out of the gates, especially given these times of economic crisis. GSCS is already in contact with the executive and legislative branches about concerns members have brought to the board, and appreciates any facts you can forward to us on this issue at gscs2000@gmail.com that demonstrate negatives re: cost, and effective & efficient implementation.
The Asbury Park Press editorial 'Preschool Plan needs Time Out' about Berkeley (Ocean County), attached here, talks about of some of these problems, click on More here to see editorial
More at www.gscschools.org ...
GO TO www.gscschools.org to see -
9-29-08 'Test the School Formula'
Star Ledger editorial weighs in on last week's Supreme Court argument on the new school funding formula (see notes and articles below on that)... "...The reaction might be premature. The administration should be given the benefit of the doubt because the first-year funding seems to deliver as promised, with $4.4 billion just for the Abbott districts. The court, however, must retain the authority to make certain the original goal is not diluted..."
More...
9-24-08 Editorials re High School Redesign issue
GSCS concurs with points made in these editorials -
ASBURY PARK PRESS 9-22-08 ‘Plan in need of remediation’ "State education officials are considering a proposal aimed at reducing the appallingly high percentage of students who need remedial courses in college because they weren't properly prepared by the end of high school. But instead of trying to bolster basic skills, they want to require more advanced-level math and science course work that some fear could come at the expense of vocational education.... Davy should head back to the drawing board, and bring the proposal's critics with her. The education board shouldn't move ahead unless all the academic and financial concerns raised about the program have been fully addressed."
STAR LEDGER 'Strengthen education first' Wednesday, September 24, 2008 "New Jersey is planning to strengthen math, science and language requirements for high school graduation. The Education Department, however, says it may take eight years to polish the plan. And that's not a bad idea...."
More...
9-24-08 Supreme Court hearing on constitutionality of School Funding Reform Act
The Supreme Court heard argument from the State Assistant Attorney General Robert Gilson yesterday on why the new school funding formula should be declared constitutional for all children in New Jersey. Gilson noted that moving forward the Abbott designation should no longer be mandated by the Court since enough appropriate state, local and federal program funding will reach Abbott districts based on their enrollment demographics' needs, reflected in the individual districts' adequacy budgets. David Sciarra, Esq., of the Education Law Center countered that the state has not provided evidence that the Abbott remediation is not needed in the future and thus the status quo should remain in effect for Abbotts until proven otherwise. The Court was uncomfortable with arguments that were diametrically opposed. The Court appeared to be prepared to counter with a "remand", a fact finding hearing that should clarify to the court the accuracy and support for the dueling arguments. The timing of the release of the court's decision on this case was not made known. Click on More here to see related articles on yesterday's Supreme Court hearing
More...
Tuesday, October 7, 2008, 9:00 – 12:30
Busch College Campus Center, Piscataway NJ
Rutgers University Institute for Improving Student Achievement (RIISA) joins
Garden State Coalition of Schools & New Jersey Coalition for Special Education Funding Reform
In Co-Sponsoring:
Promoting Excellence:Best Practice in Special Education & the Funding Frameworks to Support it
Featuring Bruce Baker, University of Kansas
Robert Pasternack, former Director of Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services (OSERS)
Additional forms and directions available at the GSCS website: www.gscschools.org
You are cordially invited to join us in a unique collaboration that brings together key stakeholders in New Jersey to help build a foundation of shared information and a national perspective on best practices in special education service delivery and the funding frameworks that support them.
9:00 Welcome
Featured Speakers
Bruce Baker; A Current Look at State Funding Formulas Nationally: The Impact on Special Education
Bruce Baker is Associate Professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at the University of Kansas, where he teaches courses on school finance policy. Since 2000, Dr. Baker has published over 30 peer reviewed research articles in leading academic journals and law reviews. Baker is author of the recently published Financing Education Systems, from Merrill/Prentice-Hall. He has consulted for state legislatures on the design of state school finance policies in Texas, Missouri, New Jersey and Wyoming, for independent groups in Washington and Illinois and has testified in school finance related constitutional challenges. Dr. Baker's work focuses on costs associated with differences in student educational needs and the design of school funding formulas to meet those needs. Dr. Baker has conducted research on racial disparities in school funding and the intersection between school funding disparities and desegregation.
Robert Pasternack, Ph.D., Best Practices in Special Education: Funding Policies to Support Excellence
Robert Pasternack is the senior vice-president for special education at Voyager Expanded Learning, a leading provider of in-school reading and math intervention programs, and professional development programs being used in more than 1,000 school districts throughout the United States, including New York City, Philadelphia, Richmond, Dallas, Phoenix, Las Vegas, and Washington, D.C., resulting in dramatically improved student performance. Prior to that, he served in the Bush Administration as assistant secretary for special education and rehabilitative services. He is a nationally certified school psychologist, certified educational diagnostician, licensed special education teacher for grades K-12 and licensed school administrator. He served as director of special education for the New Mexico State Department of Education. Pasternack has lifelong personal experience with people with disabilities. For nearly 20 years, he has served as the legal guardian for his brother, who was born with Down syndrome.
Registration is limited. Make Checks Payable @ $15.00 to RIISA and Send to
(Cash or checks may be accepted at the door):
Garden State Coalition of Schools , c/o Joanne D’Angelo, 74 Springcress Dr, Delran, N.J. 08075, or
fax ”D’Angelo” at 856 235 0961
Name___________________________________________________
Title & Affiliation___________________________________________
Address_________________________________________________
Phone___________________________________________________
e-mail___________________________________________________
( ) Check enclosed ( ) Cash or check accepted at registration desk the day of the forum
