Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

 
     1-12-10 Moving on...'Budget plan a wrinkle for districts'
     1-11-10 Transition News
     1-5-10 GSCS: Update on January 4 Lame Duck Session
     1-6-10 Race to the Top Plans on the move, not without conflict
     12-27-09 'New Jersey competes for education reform stimulus money' (aka 'Race to the Top' funds)
     12-23-09 Gannett article provides details on Gov. Corzine's proposal to use additional surplus in place of state aid
     12-23-09 GSCS: Governor Corzine targets excess school surplus to replace state aid payments starting in Feb '10 - lame duck legislation anticipated
     10-20-09 REMINDER: Commissioner Davy to be at 10-28 GSCS meeting in Atlantic City
     9-13-09 As an issue for N.J.(Gubernatorial election), schools are in'
     7-22-09 'State gives extra aid for schools an extraordinary boost'
     6-19-09 a.m. GSCS 'Quick' FYI - State Budget Vote delayed to Thursday, June 25
     6-16-09 News from Trenton on State Budget in Senate and Assembly Budget Committees yesterday
     APPROPRIATIONS ACT FY2009-1020 as introduced
     A4100-S2010 Appropriations Act 'Scoresheet' and Language Changes released
     6-10-09 Education Week on Abbott Decision
     6-9-09 COMMENTARY on Supreme Court Abbott school funding decisio
     5-27-09 GSCS 18th ANNUAL MEETING - All INVITED GUESTS HAVE CONFIRMED, INCLUDING GOVERNOR CORZINE
     5-19-09 Treasurer David Rousseau announces additional round of cuts to Gov's proposed State Budget FY2009-2010
     4-5-09 The Record, Sunday April 5, Front Page Opinion
     3-29-09 Record Editorial on Judge Doyne recommendations
     3-16-09 EMAILNET
     3-11-09 CORZINE BUDGET ADDRESS: STATE FUNDING FOR SCHOOLS A LITTLE MORE NOT LESS - FEDERAL TITLE 1 & IDEA INCREASES YET TO BE COUNTED - STATE SCHOOL AID FIGURES ON DEPT OF ED WEBSITE 1:30 TODAY - RELATED ARTICLES, MORE...
     3-10-09 GOVERNOR TO DELIVER STATE BUDGET MESSAGE TODAY - SCHOOL AID FIGURES TO BE RELEASED BY THURSDAY LATEST
     2-24-09 State Budget & Stimulus News of Note
     2-19-09 Federal stimulus - information re: Education funding in 'State Fiscal Stabilization' part of the package
     1-16-09 Today's news notes state budget waiting on Obama stimulus package
     1-11-09 'Corzine State of State speech to put economy front & center'
     12-28-08 NY Times 'Pension Fight Signals What Lies Ahead'
     12-29-08 NJ to new leaders - Fund our schools
     12-23-08 Governor faces hard choices in the New Year
     12-21-08 GSCS EMAILNET - Excerpts
     11-18-08 Ledger Online & 11-19 Star Ledger headline news
     11-18-08 Supreme Court decides in favor of Abbott districts re new school funding law
     11-5-08 Gov. Corzine U.S. Treasury Secretary?
     11-5-08 Governor Corzine candidate for Secretary of U.S. Treasury per Ledger report
     Conversation with the Commissioner in Atlantic City
     Education Commissioner Lucille Davy at GSCS Open Mtg 10-29 in A.C.
     9-24-08 Supreme Court hearing on constitutionality of School Funding Reform Act
     8-29-08 'Newly hired teachers benefit from Corzine delay'
     12-3-07 As details become clearer on the new funding plan, GSCS will report on its emerging position
     11-20-07 RELEASE OF NEW SCHOOL FUNDING FORMULA LIKELY TO BE DELAYED UNTIL AFTER THE THANKSGIVING HOLIDAY
     11-16-07 Governor Corzine's remarks on school funding to League of Municipalities
     11-8-07 Governor & Legislative leadership agree to take up - and pass - funding formula in Lame Duck
     10-23 Media reports & Trenton responses to date re GSCS Press Conf
     9-29-07 The New York Times - Patience with Corzine Wears Thin
     10-10-07 Key Questions for Legislative Candidates
     10-12-07 Coach Corzine's tactic to win the game? Punt
     In the news - Corzine on school aid formula & good news for urban schools
     9-13-07Corzine adds school aid to the lame-duck agenda
     8-10-07 'Standing 'O' greets Corzine as he hosts town hall mtg'
     8-1-07 'Paterson isn't ready to gain control' & 7-29 'The Numbers still don't add up'
     4-4-07 News articles, editorial & Op-Ed on bill signings for A1 and A4
     3-25-07 New York Times on NJ Comparative Spending Guide, more on Gov putting off signing A1, Tax Caps & Rebate bill
     3-22-07 THINGS CHANGE...Governor Corzine delays A1 becoming law
     3-21-07 The Tax Cap-Credit bill, A1, can become law by Friday without Governor's signature
     3-1-07 Emerging Devil showing up in the details
     2-23-07 News Articles re Gov's Budget Proposal
     2-22-07 GSCS EMAILNET re Gov's Budget Message
     2-22-07 Governor Corzine's Budget Message today
     2-16 to 2-19 New Articles of Note
     2-14-07 GSCS letter to Gov Corzine & Commr of Education Davy - Request for State Aid FY0708
     2-12-07 State School Aid - needed to offset property taxes now
     2-9-07 GSCS EMAILNET MEMBER FYI on Trenton legislation Action
     2-8-07 News artiles-editorial re Gov's annoucnement that there will not be a new school funding formula for FY0708
     2-7-07 School funding, school audits - need for new formula underscored
     2-6-07 Trenton Update - S19 Super Supt passes Senate; Tax Cap bill stalled; No funding formula in FY0708
     2-1-07 Turnpike for sale, Gov - need funding formula, more
     1-30-07 'Is Property Tax Plan Legal?'
     1-30-07 Tax Caps bill, A1, passes Assembly late last night
     1-25-07 GSCS: No School Aid = No Real Tax Relief...again
     1-24-07 Quinnipiac Poll & School Construction woes for Corzine
     1-21-07 Gannett article on 'property tax credit, annual cap vote due'
     Trenton Update Jan 9-Jan 15, Gov's State of the State, more
     1-8-07 Articles & Editorial talk about 'missing pieces' of tax reform proposal and note consequences
     1-7-06 GSCS & HARD CAPS & IMPORTANT PIECES OF THE PUZZLE STILL MISSING
     GSCS RESOLUTION FOR PUBLIC SCHOOLS 2007
     1-5-07 Small-town officials protest consolidation
     1-2-07 GSCS New Year's Resolution
     12-19-06 Feedback - articles on school funding hearings yesterday
     12-18-06 Sunday editorials - take of Property Tax session
     12-15-06 EMAILNET Bills Held!
     12-11-06 Trenton is in disarray - read news clip
     12-8 & 12-9 News clips on Trenton machinations...
     11-19-06 Sunday Press Articles & Commentaries
     11-16-06 Governor Corzine's speech on Property Tax Address to League of Municipalities
     11-10-06 NJ education chief vows urban support
     11-11-06 EMAILNET Special Session Legislative Committees report Nov. 14 or 15
     11-9-06 Public hearing on school consolidation tonight, 7 pm, at Freehold Borough Chambers, 51 Main St
     11-9-06 Public hearing on school consolidation tonight, 7 pm, in Freehold
     11-6-06 The need for special education funding to stay as a 'categorical' aid based on each students disability is real
     11-4-06 Senate President & Assembly Speaker 'no new taxes'
     10-25-06 Details on Corzine Administration's new funding formula starting to emerge
     10-5-06 EMAILNET
     10-5-06 Conversation on school funding, consolidation continues
     School Construction: Third Report to Governor by Interagency Working Group
     9-15-06 Star Ledger & AP - 3.25B suggested for school construction
     9-15-06 Star Ledger - 3.25B suggested for school construction
     August 2006 on - GSCS NOTEBOARD ON SPECIAL SESSION Committee meetings
     7-29-06 School Funding formula draws mixed reactions
     7-28-06 Gov to legislature: make history, cut taxes
     7-27-06 Trenton begins its move to address property taxes
     7-16-06 Lead economists address NJ's economy downswing
     7-12-06 Column on State Budget legislator items
     7-14-06 EMAILNET
     7-12-06 It's Official - Governor appoints Lucille Davy as Education Commissioner
     7-11-06 Talk of Special Session on Property Tax Reform
     7-9&10-06 State Budget news articles -wrap up & news analyses
     7-9-06 Sunday New York Times
     7-8-06 FY07 Budget approved - 19.5 in spec ed grants stays in
     7-7-06 EMAILNET - AGREEMENT ON STATE BUDGET REACHED, impt 'details' still being finalized
     7-7-06 AGREEMENT ON STAE BUDGET REACHED, impt 'details' still being finalized
     7-3-06 Roberts, Codey & Corzine still not on same page
     6-30-06 State Budget news - as the dissonance must be resolved
     6-29-06 Mirroring the elements, State Budget looking like a 'natural disaster'
     6-15-06 Star Ledger, Gannet articles- Abbott advocates demand school reform at educ. dept
     6-12-06 EMAILNET - Extraordinary Special Education student aid; FY07 Budget 'crunch' is on; news clips
     6-6-06 Legislative Leaders announce initial plans for property tax reform
     5-16-06 EMAILNET Action in Trenton
     5-10-06 A Lot is going on - Major News fromTrenton
     Gubernatorial Candidates' Education Plans announced September 05
     Governor Corzine takes steps towards major policy initiatives.
     4-8-07 Corzine Administration files brief with Supreme Court re Abbott funding
     4-7-07 The Record
     3-29-06 EMAILNET State Budget FY07 Hearings Update
     3-28-06 GSCS testimony before Assembly Budget Comm today
     3-24-06 EMAILNET FYI Update on Gov Corzine's Budget FY07
     3-23-06 Corzine says some Abbotts can raise taxes
     3-16-06 Gannett Press: Corzine wants to raise taxes, slash $2B
     Governor's Budget message 1 pm 3-21-06
     3-15-06 News articles on FY07
     3-10-06 Star Ledger 'Time is ripe for poorer districts to contribute.
     3-9-06 Governor speaks to S1701 at town meeting
     3-7-06 More articles on the Gov's Budget Summit and School Board members fo to Trenton
     3-7-06 Articles on Gov's Budget Summit and School Board members off to Trenton
     12-14-05 Asbury ParkPress Editorial 'Re-assess the ABC's of School Funding' notes the Governor's role is critical in making positive change occur
     Gubernatorial, Assembly District by District, County and Municipal voting breakdowns-results & formats for November 8 elections
     2-2-06 GSCS HEADS UP re probable delay of Governor's Budget Message
     Governor Corzine's Transition Team Reports
     1-19-06 EMAILNET Quick Facts, On the Homepage Today
     1-19-06 News Articles Trenton Times, The Record, Star Ledger
     1-18-06 Star Ledger
     Governor Corzine- Inaugural Address
     1-15-06 The Record 2 Sunday Articles anticipating top issues confronting the Corzine administration
     1-11-06 Star Ledger - Corzine Casts Wide Net for Cabinet
     12-14-05 Asbury ParkPress Editorial 'Re-assess the ABC's of School Funding'
     12-5-05 Governor-elect Corzine selects policy advisory groups
     11-20-05 Sunday Star Ledger 'Corzine's risky promise to taxpayers
     11-11-05 Trenton Times Corzine puts property taxes at the top of his agenda
     11-9-05 The Record - Governor Elect can't claim a mandate
     November 9 The Trenton Times - Corzine Triumphs
     9-9-05 Trenton Times,Corzine Education Agenda
1-5-10 GSCS: Update on January 4 Lame Duck Session
Of Note: Certain bills that have been targeted by GSCS since June and on the GSCS 'Radar Screen' did not come up for a vote (our thanks to members who helped in our outreach out to Trenton). These bills included S2850- Prevailing Wage for Food Service Workers; A4140-Subcontracting revisions; A4142-'Instant Tenure' bill; A1489 Extracurricular Fee bill. GSCS continues to watch...School-related bills that are moving through are A3671-Accredited Institution/studies & compensation; A194-S1036 Allows undocumented residents to pay in-state tuition for higher education studies; A3472- Interdistrict Public School Choice bill, among others...The Pension Deferral bills (S3136-A4362) were held (not enough votes). For related news articles from today, click on More here...ALSO OF NOTE: Governor Corzine's introduced plan to cut state aid to schools via additional surplus on hand,requires legislation...to date, no legislation has been introduced to support this proposal. GSCS is hearing it is 'up in the air' and will not be addressed, at least not in this lame duck session. There are clear problems with the proposal's approach: one, by our measures, is that approximately 40% of school districts will not be impacted; the 60% that could be affected will not be able to apply those moneys to property tax relief (as currently required by law). Since this legislated process has been in place for awhile, removing those funds from property tax relief would create a structural hole in building the revenue side of the school budget at the get-go. At this point it appears that the retiring 213th Legislature is letting go of Corzine's recommendation, leaving the issue to the new 214th Legislature and the new Governor, Chris Christie. Yet GSCS has also been aware that state aid is a likely target and may be cut to schools in this year. GSCS submits that school communities require flexibility in how to apply any potential aid cuts.


January 4, 2010

In-state tuition for illegal immigrants advances in state Legislature

By MICHAEL SYMONS
GANNETT STATE BUREAU

Committees in both houses of the Legislature voted Monday for a proposal that would give immigrant children not in the country legally the ability to pay in-state tuition rates at New Jersey public colleges.

Students who are undocumented aliens would be eligible to pay in-state tuition if they attended a New Jersey high school for at least three years, graduated or got the equivalent of a diploma and file an affidavit with their college promising to apply to legalize their immigration status as soon as they're eligible.

New Jersey would be the 12th state to exempt undocumented immigrants from paying out-of-state tuition rates — which can be twice or more the rates charged to in-state residents — if the Senate and Assembly pass the bill Thursday or next Monday and Gov. Jon S. Corzine signs it before leaving office Jan. 19.

Democrats on the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee and Assembly Budget Committee voted for the bill, and Republicans opposed it.

"We're not talking about free tuition. We're talking about in-state tuition. It almost makes it sound like we're giving something away," Assemblywoman Valerie Vainieri Huttle, D-Bergen, said of critics. "This is equal, fair opportunity."

"It's not about in-state, out-of-state. It's about people at the end of the day. Documented, undocumented, it really doesn't matter. They're in this country. We should be helping them. We should be working together as one large family and doing what's right by people," said Sen. Brian Stack, D-Hudson.

Most of the public testimony was in support the bill, though not all ot it. Jeffrey Hastings of Rockaway said the proposal violates federal law because it affords illegal immigrants a benefit not offered to U.S. citizens who live in other states.

"It is an unnecessary added burden on New Jersey taxpayers to expect them to subsidize this, however small the cost may be, on top of all the other initiatives that are approved for undocumented residents such as emergency health care and the cost of certain incarcerations," Hastings said. "New Jersey taxpayers have just had it with these extra social initiatives."

Both committee hearings were packed, primarily by advocates for the bill, including students — most of them declining to provide their full names, in fear of creating legal jeopardy for themselves — who offered testimony about their struggles to afford college and land quality jobs due to their immigration status.

The bill doesn't directly affect state revenues, though it would reduce tuition payments to public colleges now charged at out-of-state rates.

It's unclear if the bill would alter college admissions patterns. If more undocumented immigrants apply to colleges, many of which are at capacity, it could restrict opportunities for legal residents, critics of the bill said. Colleges may also admit a greater number of out-of-state students to make up for any lost revenue.

"For the economics to work here, with all due respect, I think you're going to end up with current students ... being disadvantaged because there's going to be a larger pool and more competition," said Assemblyman Richard Merkt, R-Morris. "And I do not approve of that when it hurts U.S. citizens. That's a problem."

Anastasia Mann, a policy analyst for New Jersey Policy Perspective who also works at the Eagleton Institute of Politics at Rutgers University, said most students who would benefit from the bill would enroll in community colleges. She said the proposal makes economic sense for the state because it raises tax receipts, improves the work force and allows low-income families to spend their limited funds on other things.

The wild card in the equation is whether Congress will enact sweeping immigration reforms in the near future. Ryan Lilienthal, an immigration attorney from Princeton, said some students can achieve citizenship status under current immigration laws but acknowledged that the situation could be altered if Washington acts.

 

N.J. Assembly committee approves bill allowing undocumented immigrants to pay in-state tuition

By Lisa Fleisher/Statehouse Bureau

January 04, 2010, 4:34PM

TRENTON -- A bill that would allow illegal immigrants who are New Jersey residents to pay in-state tuition was today moved out of an Assembly committee after hours of emotional testimony.

Opponents of the bill say it goes against federal law and would deprive state colleges of the money that out-of-state tuition would bring in, but supporters counter that it would bring paying students to the school who otherwise would not have attended at all.

 

The Assembly Appropriations Committee voted 7-4 to move the bill to the full Assembly. It was scheduled for debate in a Senate committee today.

If the bill is passed by the full Legislature and signed by the governor, immigrants in the country illegally would be eligible for in-state tuition if they have attended a New Jersey high school for at least three years and received a diploma or equivalency.

 

The Office of Legislative Services, a nonpartisan body that works for the legislature, said the bill would not cost the state money, but some legislators say they cannot see how that is possible. Assemblyman Richard Merkt (R-Morris) said it was "naive" to think so, and Assemblyman Herb Conaway (D-Burlington) said he had spoken to university presidents who said it would have a fiscal impact.

 

Dozens of students stood in front of the Assembly Committee today to show their support and testify. A few would not give their full names, and the press were asked not to photograph their faces.

Cid Wilson, the vice chairman at the board of trustees at Bergen Community College, said the bill would not cost colleges like his more money.

"If anything, there will be a benefit to the colleges," he said, because many of the costs are larger, fixed costs that do not increase with each additional student. He said the "large amount" of undocumented students at the college have shined and excelled, and pay taxes through rent, sales and income tax.

Supporters said the students should not be punished for their parents' decisions.

 

One of the bill's sponsors, Valerie Vainieri Huttle (D-Bergen), argued that this was simply making the tuition rates equal for students who had lived here as long - or longer - than other students who receive in-state rates.

"I think this bill is about fairness and opportunity," she said. "We are not giving anything away. We are just making it equal."

 

Opponents also said it was about fairness - to the people in the country legally.

"A kid from South Philly or a kid from the South Bronx, who happens to be a citizen, is going to pay higher tuition than someone who is here from, say, Saudi Arabia, and not here legally," Merkt said. "I don't know how a legislator, who has taken an oath to support the Constitution of the United States, can say we're going to ignore federal law and provide a subsidy to youngsters who are here in violation of the law."

Ten states -- including New York, Texas, California and New Mexico -- allow illegal immigrants to pay in-state tuition.

 

 

N.J. lawmakers hear bills aimed at improving urban education

By The Associated Press

January 04, 2010, 5:13PM

TRENTON -- Education experts say New Jersey's failing urban public schools can be improved by pairing more experienced teachers with disadvantaged students, downsizing schools and insisting that high academic standards be met.

The experts were invited to the Assembly Education Committee today to share their ideas on improving urban education.

Incoming Gov. Chris Christie, who visited a Newark charter school the day after winning the Nov. 3 election, has vowed to make public education a priority in his new administration. His term begins Jan. 19.

Full Star-Ledger coverage of the N.J. Governor-elect Chris Christie transition

During the gubernatorial campaign, Christie accused his opponent, Gov. Jon Corzine, of not moving fast enough to approve charter school applications.

Christie has said he wants to give parents of students in underperforming schools the option of transferring to other public schools, charter schools — or possibly even private schools.

Committee Chairman Joe Cryan said the goal of the hearing was to find more opportunities for city students. While charter schools often are successful, about a quarter fail, he said.

School performance in New Jersey's urban areas is similar that of other states, said Michele Cahill, vice president for national programs and director of urban education at the Carnegie Corp. in New York. Nationally, 4 of 10 high school graduates need remedial help in college, Cahill said.

"As a country, we're no longer first in the world," she said. "Others have caught up and surpassed us."

C. Kent McGuire, dean of the College of Education at Temple University in Philadelphia and a school board member in Moorestown, said too many teachers in urban districts are teaching subjects they are not certified to teach.

"All too often we have the least experienced teachers deployed in classrooms with the least advantaged," McGuire said.

Cahill agreed, saying that up to 70 percent of urban middle schoolers are being taught math by teachers who are not certified in that subject.

The experts pointed to research showing that small community-based schools — "where adults and kids know each other," according to Cahill — help students thrive, while big, impersonal schools do not.

"Relationships between the adults and the kids play a major role in success," she said.

Cahill said urban education reforms should include "fewer, clearer, higher" standards and assessments for students and teachers.

Meanwhile, the Assembly Appropriations Committee approved a bill to expand a pilot school choice program.

The legislation, sponsored by Assemblywomen Mila Jasey and Joan Voss, creates a permanent public school choice program allowing parents to move their kids to schools located across district lines.

"Public school choice is an important step to ensuring each child has the ability to attend a school that is best-suited to their individual needs and talents," said Jasey, a former member of the South Orange-Maplewood Board of Education. "More importantly, public school choice programs can improve educational outcomes for students without seeing taxpayer money funneled out of New Jersey's strong public school system."

The program would replace a pilot program that expired in 2005, though many participating districts continued to informally honor previously agreed-to student arrangements.

The committee released the bill 12-0. It now heads to the Assembly speaker, who decides whether to post it for a floor vote.


Related coverage

Christie urges Corzine to delay applying for $400M in federal education aid

National education group gives N.J. charter school laws a 'C' grade

Issues facing N.J. public schools, students tackled by gubernatorial candidates

N.J. high school students interested in teaching get ground level view of urban school difficulties

 

Bill allowing N.J. municipalities to defer pension payments stalls

By Statehouse Bureau Staff

January 04, 2010, 7:05PM

TRENTON -- Legislation that would allow local governments to delay paying their full pension obligations stalled in the state Legislature today, despite lobbying from urban mayors who said it was necessary to stave off property tax hikes and prevent layoffs in tough economic times.

Appropriations committees in the Senate and Assembly pulled the bill from their agendas. Senate Majority Leader Stephen Sweeney, who opposes the bill, said the bill did not have enough votes to pass.

The legislation would extend a controversial measure — which Gov. Jon Corzine championed last year — to allow municipalities to defer up to a half-billion dollars in pension payments, replenishing the funds over 15 years beginning in 2013. It would not immediately affect any workers, retired or active, but it would put off required payments to the fund from which benefits are paid.

Jersey City Mayor Jerramiah Healy said the municipality would have to raise $15 million — potentially through a combination of higher taxes and layoffs — without the cost-cutting tool. He said it would simply punt the problem into the future, adding the state should give local officials the power to make those financial decisions.

"Let them make the call, and if it turns out wrong, they’ll take the blame for that," Healy said.

Sen. Sandra Cunningham (D-Hudson) introduced the legislation last month, saying cities needed the break during the economic downturn to prevent property tax increases.

Sweeney and others have cited concern for the health of the severely underfunded pension system in their opposition.

Full Star-Ledger coverage of the N.J. budget

By Trish G. Graber and Lisa Fleisher/Statehouse Bureau


Previous coverage

Gov. Corzine announces $839M in cuts to help close N.J. budget gap

N.J. Gov.-elect Chris Christie opposes pension deferrals by local government

N.J. bill would allow local governments to delay paying contribution to pension system