Garden State Coalition of Schools

160 W. State St., Trenton, NJ 08608  •  (609) 394-2828/732 618 5755 )cell)  •  www.gscschools.org • gscs2000@gmail.com

Celebrating Our 21st Year!

Working on Behalf of Our Member Districts:  a sampling of 2011-12 Accomplishments

• Advocated vigorously for reasonable options to be available for school funding in the FY ’12 state budget that would reach all districts.  Consistent with this GSCS message, districts received almost double the aid increase than first proposed in the Governor’s February 2011 budget message, which continued for a second year the “give back” of state aid lost in FY ’10.

• GSCS has been a long time, persevering advocate for increased special education funding.  Special Education base costs were increased in the Governor’s Proposed Budget by nearly $4,000.

• Presented our second annual Fall Education Forum, “The Inside Track:  What’s in Store for NJ’s Students Lame Duck and Beyond” on November 2 in conjunction with the NJ School Development Council.  Speakers included David Hespe, DOE chief of staff; media commentators John Mooney and Tom Moran; and a panel of veteran Trenton education advocates.

• Met one-on-one with numerous Trenton key decision makers and leadership in the legislative and executive branches on a regular basis.

• Representing GSCS, appeared regularly in the media, including the Star Ledger, the Record, the Wall Street Journal, the Herald News, the Courier Post, the Philadelphia Inquirer, the Asbury Park Press, the Press of Atlantic City, the Daily Record, NJ Spotlight, various local patches and newspapers, NJTV television, and NPR radio (NY, NJ, and Philadelphia area), 101.5 fm news radio, and more.

• Brought your message to Trenton by presenting testimony on the state’s proposed FY’13 budget to both the Senate and the Assembly Budget Committees, as well as testimony before the Senate and Assembly Education Committees on charter school and tenure reform issues, among others.

• Consistently working directly with the statehouse & DOE on charter school reform legislation, tenure and evaluation reform, and school funding, among other issues.

• Maintained a website that has attracted nearly 2 M hits, providing timely state information, news, policy, data, in addition to advocacy strategies.

• Regularly produced an electronic newsletter that takes your message to readers and decision makers statewide.

• Strengthened the GSCS infrastructure to prepare for another successful 20 years.

• Presenting our 21st Annual Meeting on May 30 at Forsgate Country Club.

• Volunteer representatives from 24 member school districts met at monthly board meetings to determine policies reflective of quality education issues and responsive to member concerns.