This is an opinion piece from the New York Times. Here is a link to the article:

By GAIL COLLINS

Let’s talk about talking pineapples.

Actually (spoiler alert!) I’m going to use the pineapple as a sneaky way to introduce the topic of privatization of public education. I was driven to this. Do you know how difficult it is to get anybody to read about “privatization of education?” It’s hell. A pineapple, on the other hand, is something everybody likes. It’s a symbol of hospitality. Its juice is said to remove warts. And you really cannot beat the talking-fruit angle.

This month, New York eighth graders took a standardized English test that included a story called “The Hare and the Pineapple,” in which you-know-what challenges a hare to a race. The forest animals suspect that since the pineapple can’t move, it must have some clever scheme to ensure victory, and they decide to root against the bunny. But when the race begins, the pineapple just sits there. The hare wins. Then the animals eat the pineapple. The end.

There were many complaints from the eighth graders, who had to answer questions like: “What would have happened if the animals had decided to cheer for the hare?” They were also supposed to decide whether the animals ate the pineapple because they were hungry, excited, annoyed or amused. (That part bothered me a lot. We’ve got a talking pineapple here, people. You don’t just go and devour it for having delusions of grandeur.)

Teachers, parents and education experts all chimed in. Nobody liked the talking pineapple questions.

This is an article from the NJ.com, here is a link to the article:

By Jarrett Renshaw/Statehouse Bureau The Star-Ledger

More than one in three school administrators in New Jersey have failed to disclose the value of their unused sick and vacation time as required by a state law intended to make their compensation plans more transparent, a Star-Ledger analysis shows.

In 2007, lawmakers approved legislation calling for school districts to provide the state Department of Education with details each year on the salaries and benefit packages of administrators who earn at least $75,000. The department is then expected to post the information on its website under the heading “user-friendly” budgets.

But that does not always happen.

A Star-Ledger review of the most recent state data found that only 1,305 of 3,447 school administrators statewide — or 38 percent — disclosed the price tag of their accrued time, and even less provided the required details on how the payout is calculated.

Despite the lack of participation, the cost of the reported accrued time still amounts to $25.2 million, the data show.

“It’s defeating the purpose of the law,” said Assemblyman John Burzichelli (D-Gloucester), a co-sponsor of the legislation. “The public deserves to know how much they are paying, and we need to find why that’s not happening.”

Some of the districts that did not disclose any financial information on unused sick and vacation time are among the state’s largest, including Camden, Atlantic City and Paterson as well as suburban districts like South Brunswick.

This is an article from the Asbury Park Press, here is a link to the article:

Revamped formula for N.J. graduation rates
District officials had mixed reactions to the release of graduation rates for each New Jersey district and public high school Tuesday. The figures use a revamped formula that has clipped back previously reported rates.

Some officials said the new rates just underscore additional work that needs to be done in their districts. Others said more work needs to be done on the new formula, required by the federal government.

While announcing plans Monday for new high school state assessments, Gov. Chris Christie had announced that the statewide graduation rate under the new system is 83 percent, rather than the nearly 95 percent that had been cited under the old formula.

The new formula differs in that it requires schools to document that individual ninth-graders who don’t graduate with their class transferred to another school, state or country or died, rather than just generally report the number of students who drop out. Because the formula has changed, comparisons to past years aren’t possible.

Freehold Regional High School District Superintendent Charles Sampson said the new graduation rates “provide baseline data,” but “the formula does not account for those students who do not exit our system until the age of 21.” He did not immediately respond to an inquiry about how many students the district has at that age. The combined rate at the district’s six schools is 95.18 percent.

This is an article from the NJ.com, here is a link to the article:

TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie today said the days of making it easier for public employees to serve as lawmakers in Trenton should come to an end.

He said if police officers, teachers and other public employees want the responsibilities — and salary — that come with being a lawmaker, they should be required to take days off from their full-time jobs when coming to Trenton for votes and committee meetings.

“They should take time when they come down and serve,” Christie said during a news conference in Plainsboro. “People in the private sector are not getting that benefit, so I don’t know why people in the public sector should.”

The comments come a day after a Star-Ledger report showed there are 15 lawmakers — 14 Democrats and one Republican — who have accrued about $850,000 worth of unused sick and vacation time that they could turn into cash.

Topping the list of lawmakers is State Sen. Nicholas Sacco (D-Hudson), whose 445 unused sick days at his job as assistant school superintendent at the North Bergen School District are worth $331,970, records show.

Sacco, who is also mayor of North Bergen, has been coming to Trenton for votes and committee sessions for two decades, but has never taken a sick or vacation day when making the trip. That’s because a state law intended to expand participation in Trenton says he doesn’t have to.

Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (D-Essex), who works as an Essex County administrator, said the law is vital to ensure a diversity of opinion in Trenton.

This is an article from the NJSpotlight.com, here is a link to the article:

The Christie administration’s slow pace with court-ordered school construction and repairs is now heading to court, this time with a twist on who actually is being sued.

The Education Law Center, the Newark-based advocacy group representing school children under the Abbott v. Burke litigation, yesterday announced it had filed a lawsuit over what it said was the administration’s failure to move on scores of so-called “emergent projects” in the state’s poorest districts.

They include more than 100 roof repairs, and dozens of air conditioning and heating system replacements, and a host of fire safety upgrades. Newark alone has more than 100 projects in need, the lawsuit reads. Trenton has 99 and Camden another 95.

The lawsuit cited more than 60 repair needs that potentially imperil students’ health and safety.

And while the usual target of complaints has been the long beleaguered Schools Development Authority, which oversees this work, the twist is the lawsuit is against the state Department of Education. The SDA oversees and manages the eventual work, but it is the department that determines and approves the projects, the key point in the suit.

“The law clearly requires the state to address hazardous school conditions, and almost nothing has been done in the last two years,” said Greg Little, the lawyer working on behalf of the ELC in the case.

This is an article from the NJ.com, here is a link to the article:

HIGHLAND PARK — Marilyn Valentine of Franklin Township was one of the few African-Americans in the audience the other night at Highland Park’s Bartle School. She came to hear a panel discussion about charter schools. Much of the discussion was critical of state policies concerning the privately managed but publicly-funded alternatives.

Valentine, who raised two children into successful adulthood, said she understood the criticisms but pointed out that many parents who looked like her despaired of traditional public schools. “Where are the solutions?” she asked.

If charter and other privatized schools aren’t the solution—and she didn’t say they were—then what are parents to do? “You’re telling the people there is nothing for you.’’

Valentine’s complaint reflects what Gov. Chris Christie and other proponents of privatizing public education—especially in the cities—have been saying. Christie insists a child’s education should not depend on a zip code.

Her questions raised the most fundamental issue in public education: What is the responsibility of the state to the education of its children. What should it do in response to continued failure?

The debate about privatization—about charters and vouchers and increased aid to private schools—really is a consequence of the failure of what was once thought to be the ultimate school reform: The state takeover of failing schools.

One panelist, Michelle Fine of Montclair, an author and professor at City University of New York, called privatization “just an exit ramp for some people.’’ Because charters and other forms of privatization don’t take in all children, she said, they “cannot be considered a systematic, equitable strategy’’ for reform.

This is an article from the Asbury Park Press, here is a link to the article:

Christie talks to Dems about proposals
BORDENTOWN TOWNSHIP — Now in his second year of trying to push changes to public education through the Legislature, Gov. Chris Christie said Monday those plans have a better chance if an agreement over income-tax cuts can be reached relatively quickly.

Christie said he’s been talking with Senate President Stephen Sweeney and Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver about tenure, merit pay, charter schools and the Opportunity Scholarship Act, which would give tax credits to businesses that donate to programs providing school vouchers to poor children.

The governor said he doesn’t have commitments about what will pass — but that he wants to avoid having the debate over income-tax cuts drag into June and distract attention from other priorities.

“How much we get done is going to be a product, I think, of how good we are at some of the other things we’ve talked about. How quickly do we come to an agreement on tax cuts and the income tax? How quickly do we come to an agreement on the budget?” Christie said, after a visit to Bordentown Regional High School, where he touted the school aid proposed in his budget plan.

“If we’re able to get those things squared away, that leaves open space for us to do the education reform,” he said. “If those things tend to dominate every day between now and the end of June, it gives you less space for it.”

Christie has proposed a 10 percent cut for all income tax brackets.

This is an opinion piece from the Asbury Park Press, here is a link to the article:

Having taught in public school for 40 years, I feel obligated to speak out in reference to the Feb. 12 editorial, “Move ahead on tenure reform.”

This proposed bill gives principals too much power. Principals are often chosen on political prowess. Many harass teachers they don’t like personally and coddle favorites, regardless of the quality of the teacher’s performance. Teacher involvement must be part of the evaluation process.

Raises are based upon length of service and advanced degrees, with most waiting 12 to 20 years before reaching maximum pay. A pay scale similar to police or the bill’s proposed four-step performance ladder should be an essential part of this bill.

Giving bonuses for troubled schools within a district is admirable. However, many boards assign unfavorable teachers to these troubled schools as punishment, thus compounding educational problems.

The original purpose for tenure is still true today. As a negotiator, I was always confronted with getting rid of bad teachers. However, these “bad teachers” never had names. Board members used this as a tactic of admonishment during negotiations.

Board members put pressure on principals so their own children are treated more favorably. A teacher issuing lower grades to a board member’s child invariably receives a reprimand from the principal.

Certainly, tenure should be reformed. However, it should proceed without the demeaning class warfare being waged by Gov. Chris Christie.

Instead of condemning our classroom teachers, we should involve them in the education process and give them ownership in the creation of this bill.

Ron Vanadia

Barnegat

This is an article from NJ.com, here is a link to the article:

TRENTON — Gov. Chris Christie today will unveil a state budget that is expected to show how he intends to pay the first installment of his proposed income tax cut and how much state aid public schools will get.

The Republican governor will deliver an annual budget speech that kicks off what could be another contentious debate with the Democrat-dominated state Legislature. Last year, Christie sliced about $900 million in programs endorsed by Democrats in finishing a $29.7 billion spending plan.

Mayors, school administrators and residents are hoping the governor will restore some of the cuts he made during the recession. At the same time, Christie will have to chip in far more to the public employee pension system as a result of a reform bill he signed last year. Christie’s office refused to disclose details of the budget in advance of the speech.

Here are several things to look out for:

• Schools: Local school districts have felt the biggest brunt of Christie’s previous belt-tightening. He restored some last year, and most expect him to increase state aid. But the governor may also have something bigger in mind. For months, the Christie administration has signaled it wants to overhaul the current funding formula and perhaps send the issue back to a state Supreme Court that will likely include three of his appointments.

• Property Tax Relief: While his property tax caps helped keep the growth of local taxes to an average 2.4 percent last year, residents have seen a steep increase in the amount they actually pay.

This is an article from the Asbury Park Press, here is a link to the article:

TRENTON — New Jersey’s top education official said Tuesday there is much he likes about a Democratic-sponsored teacher tenure reform bill, although he stopped short of endorsing the measure.

Acting Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf said he is glad the bill, if enacted into law, would end tenure as lifetime job security, and require that teacher ratings play a significant role in determining who would be let go during layoffs.

But Cerf acknowledged that the bill does not contain provisions for merit pay, long advocated by Gov. Chris Christie’s administration. Instead, Cerf said, he hopes merit pay will be allowed by the Legislature and then eventually become embedded in teacher contracts through the local negotiation process.

Cerf made the comments during a meeting with the Asbury Park Press editorial board, one day after state Sen. M. Teresa Ruiz, D-Essex, introduced what, if approved, would be landmark teacher tenure legislation for New Jersey, although about half of the states have enacted some form of tenure reform.

Ruiz has been meeting with various interest groups, including the state’s largest teachers union, the New Jersey Education Association, for about a year. Ruiz has been praised by Christie, a Republican, and Cerf reiterated that praise on Tuesday.

“Let’s give a lot of credit to Sen. Ruiz. I’m a Democrat, this is a hard issue for Democrats to carry,” Cerf said. “She is carrying it ably, thoughtfully and well.”

That the bill would create a mechanism for teachers to lose tenure protections if they are found to be ineffective is “a big deal,” Cerf said.