NJ Education Report

Today’s NJ Spotlight reviews Gov. Christie’s comments on OSA and tenure reform (among other things) at  American Federation for Children’s “School Choice Summit” in Jersey City:

OSA’s true prospects: The bill has seen many lives over the last decade and has a decent shot with even Democrats, at least in a scaled-down pilot that has been sponsored by the Assembly’s leadership. “We have repeatedly said that we would consider a scaled-back version of the Opportunity Scholarship Act,” said Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver in a statement yesterday. “We welcome [the governor] to come to the table and discuss a compromise that does not further threaten our public education system.” 

State of tenure reform: A tenure reform bill sponsored by state Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex) was said to have bipartisan backing, but Christie yesterday threw some cold water on the plan and said it appears to have stalled under Democratic and union politics. “Some of the proposals I like, but I’m worried because nothing is moving. When nothing’s moving, you know in New Jersey that something is afoot.”

“We welcome him to come to the table and discuss a compromise that does not further threaten our public education system,” she said Thursday. “If the governor thinks I’m the only one standing in the way of the bill, then I challenge him to get it through the Senate first.”

Republican Senate leader Tom Kean Jr., who is sponsoring a school voucher bill, said Thursday, “It is beyond reasonable — it is essential — to give children a fighting chance to succeed in whatever school environment is best, whether that be a thriving public district or a non-public school closer to home. Politics should not be a roadblock for the Opportunity Scholarship Act.”