N.J. Gov. Chris Christie pushes for education changes with speech in Washington
By Claire Heininger/Statehouse Bureau
May 03, 2010, 6:00PM
Gov. Chris Christie and New Jersey Education Commissioner Brett Schundler (center) greets guests as Christie arrives to deliver the keynote address at the National School Choice Summit at the Omni Shoreham Hotel in Washington.WASHINGTON — A lightning rod at home for his deep cuts to school funding, Gov. Chris Christie came to the nation’s capital tonight to push for education reforms — and announced he will support a scholarship program allowing students to opt out of 200 "chronically failing" New Jersey schools.
Calling it "the first step" that will "lead to school vouchers across the state of New Jersey," Christie said the bill, now pending in the Legislature, would allow parents of all means to make a choice like he has made to send his four children to Catholic school.
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"A single mother in Newark, working two jobs to keep a roof over her child’s head, should have no less of an ability to make that choice," the Republican governor said. "Her child’s life is no less precious than ours. Her child’s future is no less promising than ours."Christie spelled out his vision for education reform in a 30-minute keynote speech to about 200 people hosted by the American Federation for Children, a school choice advocacy group. He was joined by his wife, Mary Pat, education Commissioner Bret Schundler and chief of staff Rich Bagger.
The new bill (S1872), set for a hearing next week, would allow low-income students in "chronically failing" schools to get scholarships they could use to pay tuition at private schools or public schools in other communities. Doled out through a lottery system, the 24,000 scholarships would be funded by corporate donors who would get a break on their state taxes.
Schools would be classified as "chronically failing" if at least 40 percent of their students fail to demonstrate proficiency on statewide math and language arts tests for two years in a row, or if at least 65 percent of students failed either test. Bill co-sponsors Sens. Tom Kean Jr. (R-Union) and Raymond Lesniak (D-Union) said there are more than 200 schools in more than 30
ar of words continues between Gov. Chris Christie and teachers union president
By Lisa Fleisher/Statehouse Bureau
May 03, 2010, 10:40PM
TRENTON - Gov. Chris Christie today shot back at the head of the New Jersey Education Association, saying it was "small and wrong and petty" of her to call him a liar. Smacking the latest volley between the two in what has been a nearly daily affair for months, Christie said union president Barbara Keshishian was "no slave to... Full story »
N.J. Gov. Chris Christie pushes for education changes with speech in Washington
By Claire Heininger/Statehouse Bureau
May 03, 2010, 6:00PM
Christie pushes scholarship program allowing students to opt out of 'chronically failing' N.J. schools. Watch the videos. Full story »
Boy Scouts keep it modern with virtual scouting badge
By Judy Peet
May 02, 2010, 7:54AM
CEDAR GROVE -- Used to be, you survived the wilderness to get a Scouting badge; now you just have to survive playing Wii Sports Resort. Granted, virtual Scouting is only one small badge available only to Cub Scouts, but the newest Boy Scouts of America offering does have some old-timers flummoxed. "You just shake your head and wonder what... Full story »
Restructure of N.J.'s public university system could succeed this time, despite failed past attempts
By Josh Margolin/Statehouse Bureau
May 01, 2010, 8:08PM
TRENTON -- Supporters of a plan to restructure the state’s public university system and dismantle the University of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey say the effort can succeed after twice failing in the past decade because New Jersey’s political landscape has changed and it can be pitched as a money-saver in tough budget times. But they know it... Full story »