NJ Education Report

Here’s the Star-Ledger’s take on Corzine’s proposal yesterday to raise high school graduation requirements in New Jersey. The bottom line is that kids would take more standardized tests, have more required high-level courses in math and science; in addition, each student have a “personalized learning plan.”

Local school districts are accustomed to State-mandated minimum graduation requirements, but those requirements have been low enough to allow individual districts to augment the basics with their own imprimatur. More required courses will erase that bit of local charm, anathema to home rule zealots. The Ledger’s John Mooney reports,

Education Commissioner Lucille Davy and her staff acknowledged that much work remains in laying out the latest version of the plan to the state Board of Education. They said there could be a full year of discussion before any final action and as many as eight years before the most stringent requirements are in place.

“It’s going to be an ongoing conversation with all of you,” Deputy Commissioner Willa Spicer told the state board. “This is just the kickoff, ladies and gentlemen, and the decision whether we want to start that.”

Skepticism abounds. The NJ Department of Education’s reputation is sullied by a lengthy series of gaffes and poor management, and getting buy-in from stakeholders is going to take more than a “kick-off.” The larger question is whether NJ can embrace a system that undermines its passion for local control.