NJPSA News Archive
May 2010
- NJPSA Endorses New Jersey’s Round 2 Race to the Top (RTTT) Application
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NJPSA Endorses New Jersey’s Round 2 Race to the Top (RTTT) Application
New Jersey to Seek $400 Million in Federal Ed Funds
The New Jersey Principals & Supervisors Association endorsed New Jersey’s Round 2 Race to the Top (RTTT) application May 27.
Date: Friday May 28, 2010
- Student Leadership Scholarships Awarded
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Date: Friday May 28, 2010
- Suit Filed in California Over How State Finances Education
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California education advocates, including school leaders, teachers, school boards, parents and students filed suit May 25, claiming the way California finances public schools violates the state constitution.
Date: Wednesday May 26, 2010
- State Budget Even Bleaker With $765 Million Shortfall Expected Over Next 13 Months
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According to a memo by the Office of Legislative Services New Jersey’s budget shortfall stands at $765 million over the next 13 months. Income tax collection dropoff – totaling $402 million – must be dealt with by June 30 to shore up this year’s budget. The State is also projecting to start the year with $365 million less than what Gov. Chris Christie forecasted in his already austere $29.3 billion budget proposal March 16, according to a memo released May 25. The new revenue estimates were presented to the Senate budget committee.
Date: Wednesday May 26, 2010
- Andy Smarick To Assume Role as NJDOE Deputy Commissioner
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Andy Smarick, currently a visiting fellow with the Fordham Institute and Ed-blogger, announced May 25 that he will be joining the New Jersey Department of Education as Deputy Commisioner this summer.
Date: Wednesday May 26, 2010
- U.S.S.C. to Decide on AZ Tuition Tax Credits
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The U.S. Supreme Court has agreed to decide the constitutionality of a 13-year-old Arizona program offering tax credits for donations made to organizations that provide scholarships for children to attend private schools. Similar to the proposed Educational Scholarship Opportunities Act, (S-1872 (Lesniak/Kean) / A-2810 (Fuentes)), now being considered in New Jersey, the constitutionality of the Arizona program will have an impact on New Jersey (Let Senate Budget Committee Know - No Vouchers!).
Date: Wednesday May 26, 2010
- N.J. School Districts Given Extra Time to Sign On to RTTT
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New Jersey’s second attempt to win up to $400 million for education reform through the federal Race to the Top competition will have the support of at least 290 school districts. In an attempt to capture a couple extra the New Jersey Department of Education announced May 25 they are giving districts until May 27 to sign on. The application must be submitted to the federal government by June 1.
Date: Wednesday May 26, 2010
- Division of Local Government Services Releases Guidance on the Impact of Law Requiring 1.5% Contribution Toward Health Benefits May 18
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The Division of Local Government Services under the Department of Community Affairs released guidance May 18 on the impact of P.L.2010, c.2 on local units of government including school districts. The guidance addresses concerns for local units in the State Health Benefits Plan as well as those in local health benefit plans.
Date: Wednesday May 26, 2010
- Assembly Speaker Says Chance N.J. Lawmakers Will Hold Summer Session on Gov’s Toolkit
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According to a report in Bloomberg Businessweek, Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver stated May 24 that the Legislature may hold a special session this summer to consider Republican Governor Chris Christie’s 33 proposals or "toolkit" aimed at reducing property taxes.
Date: Wednesday May 26, 2010
- NJDOE Releases Third-Time HSPA Taker Results May 19
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The New Jersey Department of Education released preliminary results for students who had not previously passed the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) who took the exam for a third time in March. According to the Department, on their third try, 1,864 students, or 16.3 percent, passed the HSPA for Mathematics, while 9,598, or 83.7 percent, failed. In the Language Arts section of the HSPA, 1,531 students, or 29.9 percent, passed the test on their third try, while 3,596 or 70.1 percent, failed.
Date: Wednesday May 26, 2010
- NJDOE Announce Graduation Appeals Process May 21 for Students Who Have Not Passed AHSA or HSPA
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The New Jersey Department of Education announced the establishment of an appeals process for students who failed some part or parts of the High School Proficiency Assessment (HSPA) or the Alternative High School Assessment (AHSA) May 21.
Date: Tuesday May 25, 2010
- Write For Us
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Educational Viewpoints, the journal of New Jersey Principals and Supervisors Association, is now accepting papers for the Fall/Winter 2010 issue on the following topics:
- 21st Century Standards
- Turning low-performing schools around
- Maintaining quality in climates of austerity
- The principalship: core competencies and focus
- Or, propose a topic.
Date: Tuesday May 25, 2010
- NJDOE Announces That All Districts Signing On to RTTT Will Take Minimum of $100K
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The New Jersey Department of Education announced May 20 that if New Jersey wins an estimated award of $400 million in the second application round, the Department will offer a minimum of $100,000 to ALL districts that sign on via the Memorandum of Understanding ( MOU), in addition to the funds which will go directly to Title I districts. The $100,000 plus award will come from the state's portion of the grant.
Date: Monday May 24, 2010
- AHSA Focus of State Board May Meeting, Board Also Reviews It’s Role in State’s RTTT Application and School Voucher Legislation
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The New Jersey State Board of Education met on May 19. Included within the items discussed was an update on the number of student’s passing the Alternative High School Assessment (AHSA) as part of the second testing round. The Board also received information from the Commissioner on New Jersey’s second attempt at federal Race to the Top funds as well as the current school voucher legislation.
Date: Wednesday May 19, 2010
- Nutrition Advocates Critical of Governor’s School Food Cuts
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Nutrition advocates say there will be more hungry, unfocused students in New Jersey's classrooms if Gov. Chris Christie's proposed cuts to the school breakfast program are approved by lawmakers.
Date: Wednesday May 19, 2010
- Governor Wants All Elections in November
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New Jersey residents currently elect local school boards members and boards of fire commissioners in April and February respectively. They also get to approve or reject budgets proposed by those school boards and fire districts.
Date: Wednesday May 19, 2010
- Court To Rule May 20 Whether NJ Public Employees Must Pay 1.5% Toward Health Benefits
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A judge is expected to rule May 20 whether public employees in New Jersey must pay at least 1.5 percent of their salaries toward health insurance. Police and fire unions are trying to stop the measure before the law can take effect May 21.
Date: Wednesday May 19, 2010
- AZ Approves Temporary 1 Cent Increase in Sales Tax to Avoid Deep Ed Cuts
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Arizona voters overwhelmingly approved a temporary sales tax increase May 18, rejecting the alternative of deeper budget cuts to education and other services provided by the financially struggled state. The 1-cent, three-year tax increase was approved by roughly two-thirds of the more than 1 million voters who participated in the state's first special election in nearly 30 years. Proposition 100 trailed in only one county — Mohave.
Date: Wednesday May 19, 2010
- N.J. Supreme Court Rules Tenured Teacher Can be Disciplined or Terminated Based on 'Unbecoming Conduct'
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A tenured teacher accused of sexually abusing a student can be brought up on disciplinary charges and fired, even if the assault case is not proved, the state Supreme Court ruled May 17. The 6-1 decision, with Justice Roberto Rivera-Soto dissenting, involved former Roselle teacher Gilbert Young Jr., who lost his teaching job for "unbecoming conduct."
Date: Wednesday May 19, 2010
- State Supreme Court Holds Silencing Parent at Board Meeting Violation of 1st Amendment
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The state Supreme Court on May 17 upheld a verdict that a parent's free-speech rights were violated when his remarks were cut short during a school board meeting. But the court, in a 5-2 decision, also said the parent’s $100,000 award was excessive and sent the case back to a trial court for review.
Date: Wednesday May 19, 2010
- 2010 NJCH Teacher Institute
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Dear Educator,
Anyone who has participated in the NJCH Teacher Institute in the past knows how valuable the experience can be. I'm hoping you can pass the following information on to some of your colleagues so that they too might share in the experience. In days like these, when teachers and librarians are under siege, it’s good to know that there’s a place to go where your contributions are respected and your work is supported.
Date: Friday May 14, 2010
- Colorado Lawmakers Back Performance Based Principal & Teacher Tenure Bill
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Colorado lawmakers on May 12 passed a landmark change to education law that will require teachers to be judged on the performance of their students and put their jobs on the line if they fail. The final vote of 27-8 came in the state Senate on the last day of the session as senators readopted the House version of the bill.
Date: Friday May 14, 2010
- Senate Committee Approves School Voucher Bill During Hearing Held Outside May 13
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Political theater in Trenton reached new heights May 13 as lawmakers advanced a school choice bill in a hearing that was moved outside. The Senate Economic Growth committee approved S-1872, the "Opportunity Scholarship Act," which would create tax credits for corporations for providing scholarships to private schools-in effect, a private school voucher program over NJPSA’s and other education advocates objections.
Date: Friday May 14, 2010
- Phys. Ed. Legislation Raises Heart Rate for Some
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Physical education legislation, H.R.1585, approved last month by the U.S. House has sparked mixed reactions, with champions, including the American Heart Association, hailing it as an important step toward combating childhood obesity and improving the health of young people, even as critics suggested that the measure’s new reporting requirements would burden local schools already struggling to meet a vast array of federal mandates.
Date: Wednesday May 12, 2010
- Sparse Ed Record for U.S.S.C. Nominee Kagan
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President Barack Obama’s choice for his second nominee to the U.S. Supreme Court—current U.S. Solicitor General Elena Kagan—is a nonjudge without the record of dealing with education law issues typical of nominees who have served on federal appeals courts. Nonetheless, the nominee to succeed Justice John Paul Stevens, who will retire at age 90 at the end of the current term, had education as part of her portfolio when she served as deputy director of the White House Domestic Policy Council under President Bill Clinton from 1997 to 1999.
Date: Wednesday May 12, 2010
- Pearson In Cooperation With NJDOE Conduct Algebra I and Algebra II Teacher Surveys
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This spring a number of students from New Jersey will be taking the American Diploma Project (ADP) Algebra I and Algebra II End-of-Course Exam. Pearson, the contractor for the end of course assessments is seeking the cooperation of New Jersey Algebra teachers in responding to an online content evaluation survey, as part of the a larger research effort to assure the content and instructional validity of these mathematics assessment programs. Participation in the survey is entirely voluntary, but Pearson will pay a stipend of $20 to each teacher who completes the survey.
Date: Wednesday May 12, 2010
- Governor Signs Diploma Mill Bill May 6
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Legislation signed into law May 6 by Gov. Chris Christie prohibits school employees from profiting from degrees obtained from mail-order or unaccredited colleges.
Date: Monday May 10, 2010
- Commissioner Proposes Sweeping Changes in How Educators & Schools Are Evaluated
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With $400 million in Race to the Top funds up for grabs, the Christie Administration unveiled a sweeping plan May 7 to overhaul the state’s education system and pay educators based on how their students perform in the classroom. The proposal — which would fundamentally change how students, teachers and school districts are evaluated — is being met with some skepticism.
The Governor said adopting the proposed changes are "very necessary" to get the much-needed federal funding for the cash-strapped state. But it was unclear if the governor can get the reforms through the Democrat-controlled Legislature.
Date: Monday May 10, 2010
- Education Commissioner Schundler Dismisses Top Ranking of N.J. in Reading & Math on NAEP & Success in Early Childhood Education
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While the latest results of the National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP), a testing program of the U.S. Department of Education show New Jersey at the top in achievement in reading and math at the fourth- and eighth-grade levels New Jersey’s education officials aren't embracing the good news. Rather, Commissioner of Education Bret Schundler’s spokesman, Alan Guenther, dismissed the results as "irrelevant’’ in an email to the Star Ledger. Guenther lumped all of public education together as one "wretched system" that fails students.
Guenther also dismissed reports which indicate that New Jersey's early education program is an example for the rest of the nation and failed to answer questions about the lack of measurable difference in test scores of voucher recipients versus those who remain in high-needs districts.
Date: Monday May 10, 2010
- Governor Unveils His Reform Toolbox May 10
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Gov. Chris Christie unveiled a 33-bill package May 10 which make up his long-anticipated "tool kit' of systemic government reforms. Plans to place stricter limits on property tax increases and put a permanent 2.5 percent limit on annual raises for public workers are part of the package. Christie also discussed several potential reforms, including raising the retirement age to 65 from 62; having public employees pay more toward their pensions and allowing towns to discard some civil service rules. A majority of the changes proposed would require Legislative approval to effectuate.
Date: Monday May 10, 2010
- Commissioner Unveils NJDOE Goals for Race to the Top – Round 2
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On May 10, 2010, Commissioner of Education Bret Schundler presented the NJ Department of Education’s goals for its June 1 application for the Race to the Top Fund to over 400 individuals representing school districts, principals, teachers and supervisors. The meeting, which took place at the War Memorial in Trenton, was the Commissioner’s opportunity to outline the goals of the second round application, to generally describe the provisions in the as-yet unwritten application and to solicit stakeholder input and support. Citing both a “moral imperative to achieve social justice” and a commitment to education reform, Schundler asked the districts present to support his call for reform. Districts have until May 25th to sign a Memorandum of Understanding to participate in “all or a significant portion” of the RTT grant before the June 1 submission date.
Date: Monday May 10, 2010
- Colorado Senate Passes Legislation Affecting Principal & Teacher Tenure
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Legislation requiring that teachers and principals be graded based on how well their students are performing cleared the state Senate on April 30. The Senate voted 21-14 to back the proposal, which would remove job protections for teachers deemed to be ineffective for two straight years, starting in 2015. The measure (Senate Bill 191) now moves to the House, where it's expected to face more opposition.
Date: Tuesday May 4, 2010
- Federal Judge Bars 'Sexting' Prosecution of Pa. Girls
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A federal judge has issued a permanent injunction barring northeastern Pennsylvania prosecutors from filing charges against several teenage girls in connection with racy cell phone photos. U.S. District Judge James Munley issued the order April 30 after Wyoming County District Attorney Jeff Mitchell said he had no plans to file charges against three girls who filed a federal lawsuit last year over the matter. The ruling follows a March decision by the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals barring prosecutors from pursuing felony charges in the case.
Date: Tuesday May 4, 2010
- Early-Ed In Jeopardy Nationwide as State Grapple with Tough Budgets
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Early-education programs are struggling to serve all the children who qualify for them, as the national recession requires states slash budgets and reduce spending, according to an annual survey of state-funded programs by the National Institute for Early Education Research (NIEER) at Rutgers University.
Date: Tuesday May 4, 2010
- Governor Christie Voices Support for Voucher Bill
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Governor Christie, in an address May 3, announced he supports recently proposed legislation, entitled the "Opportunity Scholarship Act," which would provide tax credits to corporations for providing scholarships to private schools-in effect, a private school voucher program. The program would divert $360 million in tax dollars to private schools. The bill, S-1872, is sponsored by Senators Thomas Kean Jr. (R-21) and Raymond Lesniak (D-20).
Date: Tuesday May 4, 2010
- Round 2 RTTT Application Meeting With Districts Scheduled for May 10
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In expectation of New Jersey submitting an application in the second round of the Race to the Top grant competition, The New Jersey Department of Education is inviting districts to participate in a “Race to the Top Round 2 Meeting” May 10 at the Trenton War Memorial. The Department will discuss the elements of the reform plan that will be part of New Jersey’s application. The application is due June 1.
Date: Tuesday May 4, 2010
- NJDOE “Clarifying” Letter Creates Additional Confusion & Questions on 1.5 Percent Payment Toward Health Benefits
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The New Jersey Department of Education issued a clarifying letter April 28 on the impact P.L.2010, c.2 (S-3) will have on school districts and employees. The letter contradicts previous guidance provided by the Department of Education on March 26. NJPSA is seeking clarification on the issue from the Department.
Date: Monday May 3, 2010