NJ Education Report

Last Tidbits from NJSBA Convention:
Charlie Rose, Arne Duncan’s General Counsel, expects that the ESEA reauthorization proposal will be ready “early next year.”

The Race To The Top proposed language received 1100 comments on 3300 separate points, which is the most feedback ever received for any federal government program.

Senator Jim Whelan, in response to a question about whether N.J. will be able to fund the School Funding Reform Act next year: “I’m not going to tell you not to worry.”

Assemblyman Wolfe suggested that N.J. public school districts may need to look at charging families for sports and other extra-curricular activities.

Election Stuffing:
Tom Moran of the Star-Ledger describes Jon Corzine as a Darth Vader/Luke Skywalker type of fellow, both a strong advocate for students and a “captive of the unions.”

The Star-Ledger reiterates its endorsement of Daggett:

Only by electing Daggett on Tuesday can the voters of this ill-served state effectively vent long-standing, pent-up demand for radical change in Trenton. And that means treating taxpayers, including public employees, as rational adults able to handle the harsh truth about the state’s dire financial condition and the need for belt-tightening by all.

Standard Fare:
Diane D’Amico of the Atlantic City Press agrees with our analysis of the NJEA’s use of NAEP data.

Like the rest of the country, N.J. students bombed end-of-year tests in Algebra 1 and Algebra, says The Record.

Eastside High may be remodeled after a successful turn-around in Providence, RI.

Move out NJSBA, move in NJEA: New Jersey Newsroom reports on the teachers’ convention in Atlantic City this week, which is expected to attract 50,000 people.

Today’s New York Times on whether Montclair’s school board should be elected or appointed.

Lauren Grodstein, a creative writing teacher at Camden’s Rutger’s campus, muses on the failure of gubernatorial candidates to express a full-throated commitment to N.J.’s ailing cities:

In years past, before Election Day, I’d give my classes a big speech about getting to the polls, taking the future into their own hands. But lately I’ve been thinking I might let this year’s election slide without comment. If I swore to my students that voting for governor would help reinvigorate Camden, lower Rutgers tuition, increase job opportunities and make their taxes more affordable, I’d probably be as wrong as when I promised them the Yankees would win in four. It’s not good for a teacher to be wrong too many times in a single semester.