Davy Takes the Stage
Laura Waters
October 30, 2009
It was standing room only yesterday at NJSBA’s “Conversation with the Commissioner” – over 300 board members and administrators eager to hear from Lucille Davy,
85% or 49% Proficiency? Depends Upon Whom You Ask
Laura Waters
October 16, 2009
This today from the Core Knowledge Blog in reference the discrepancy between New York State testing in math, which showed that 80% of 8th graders
Here’s a Fact from “The Rubber Room,”
Laura Waters
August 27, 2009
Steven Brill’s must-read in The New Yorker: 99% of all NYC teachers in 2001 received a “satisfactory” performance rating. Is there any other industry where
Does Teacher Proficiency Matter?
Laura Waters
August 24, 2009
The State DOE trumpeted the news last week: 99.7% of New Jersey classroom teachers are Highly Qualified! Declared Education Commissioner Lucille Davy, this victory “represent(s)
Why Ed Reform is Healthier Than Health Reform
Laura Waters
August 21, 2009
On Wednesday, Ed Comm Lucille Davy told the Star-Ledger that, while she was gratified that almost 100% of N.J. public school teachers are “highly qualified,”
Special Ed Parents to DOE: Get Your Nose Out of Our Placement Business
Laura Waters
August 17, 2009
Special education advocates continue to be alarmed by the broad powers granted to each county’s Executive County Superintendent (ECS). Originally, new DOE regulations seemed to
NJEA Endorses Legislators
Laura Waters
August 3, 2009
NJEA’s PAC has just voted to endorse 47 Democrats and 24 Republicans for the New Jersey Legislature. Here’s the complete list. The press release also
N. J. Spends 3.5 Billion Dollars Per Year on Special Education
Laura Waters
July 23, 2009
It’s the highest in the nation on a per pupil basis, about 1.6 times what we spend per general education kid. Why? In large part
Grading on a Curve
Laura Waters
July 21, 2009
Why did Lucille Davy and the DOE suddenly raise the score required for “proficiency” on N.J.’s standardized assessments for middle schoolers after the tests had
How Education Reform Is Changing N.J.’s Political Landscape
Laura Waters
July 20, 2009
A funny thing is happening on the way to the gubernatorial election in New Jersey. The education reform movement is starting to overturn traditional alliances