NJ Education Report

In today’s Wall St. Journal, Lisa Fleisher lists the ways that Newark Superintendent Cami Anderson would have used a $30 million Race to the Top federal grant, which was nixed by Newark Teachers Union Joseph Del Grosso:

• $18 million “for upgrades to technology, along with money for consultants to train teachers.”

• $3.9 million on laptop computers or tablets “at about $850 each or less that would be shared by students and stored in the classroom, as well as $1.8 million to upgrade other computer or Internet technology, such as security, server and storage upgrades.”

• $5.3 million of the grant to help teachers in ninth and 10th grades interpret such data.

• $2 million on teacher training.
• $1.5 million “on laptops for teachers and faculty members that cost about $1,100 each; and about $215,750 on overtime for teachers at $37 an hour.”

Why would Del Grosso deprive kids and teachers of $30 million in technology upgrades, professional development, and new opportunities? It’s theory, you know what I’m saying?” Mr. Del Grosso said. “It’s nothing that we can say, ‘That is actually going to work.'”

Fleisher adds, “There were also millions of dollars to improve services for students, which included training for teachers on how to deal with students facing social or emotional problems, and funding for organizations that could help refer students to outside services. Mr. Del Grosso said there is already support for students in schools, but Ms. Anderson said school workers could use more help.”