New Jersey's Chris Christie Touts Education Agenda
Arguing that his state is spending too much money on schools and getting too few results, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie vowed Tuesday to push for major changes in education, including proposals to judge teachers by student achievement.
The Republican governor is "challenging the system," his office argued in a statement, though it appears that a number of his agenda items will need the backing of state lawmakers to become reality.
Christie campaigned for office last year on promises to expand charter schools and increase school choice.
He has also voiced support for merit pay, and in touting his education agenda on Tuesday, he said he wants to "reward innovative and effective teaching," and "put student achievement at the center of educator evaluations." Teachers should be judged on their classroom work, he said—not seniority.
Those ideas may not get a winning reception from the New