News Highlights

• News & Publications
  • 

    Christie plays politics with “Race to the Top” story

    NJEA President Barbara Keshishian issued the following statement: “Gov. Chris Christie has used what should be good news – New Jersey’s selection as a finalist for $400 million in federal ‘Race to the Top’ funding – to once again attack NJEA and its members. “It’s a tired act, and it needs to end. This governor – who has cut $1.4 billion from public education, resulting in the layoff of thousands of teachers and deep program cuts that will hurt students badly – now wants to make people believe he’s the champion of public education. Read More

  • New Jersey ranks high in Kids Count survey for children’s health, education

    According to the latest Kids Count nationwide survey of child health, wealth and well-being, New Jersey is an expensive place to live, but it is also a good place to raise and educate children, with its competitive school system and access to health programs for working poor families. Read More

  • NJ application is a finalist for “Race to the Top” grant

    U.S. Education Secretary Arne Duncan has announced that New Jersey is one of 19 finalists for a Phase II federal “Race to the Top” grant. If New Jersey wins a grant – and there could be funding for up to 12 winners – it would bring an estimated $400 million in funding to the state over the next four years. Read More

• Teaching & Learning

  • Resources for future educators

    The Center for Future Educators (CFE) seeks future educators interested in teaching in high poverty and hard-to-staff schools and/or high shortage subject areas such as math, science, special education, world languages, technology, bilingual, and ESL. The CFE web site showcases information about state-wide initiatives and programs that recruit high school and middle school students who are considering teaching as a future career. Read More

  • Important information for RIFed members

    As a result of Gov. Christie’s draconian budget cuts, many districts are planning to lay off teachers and other school employees. While NJEA and its members are still fighting for additional funding to reduce the need for RIF’s, it is likely that Gov. Christie’s budget cuts will result in many lost jobs. If members of your association are facing RIFs, please direct them to this resource page. Read More

  • NJDOE launches new website, offers workshops on core standards

    The N.J. Department of Education (DOE) has launched a new website -- http://njcccs.org -- to assist with the implementation of the newly revised Core Curriculum Content Standards (CCCS). Read More

• Issues & Political Action

  • Christie calls special session. Attack on education continues.

    Gov. Christie has called a special session of the Legislature beginning July 1. Christie is attempting to strong arm legislators into considering his draconian property tax cap proposal, which would enshrine a 2.5% cap into the state constitution. Earlier this week, the legislature passed its own property tax cap legislation, a statutory 2.9% limit. Read More

  • NJEA testifies against cap legislation

    NJEA Director of Government Relations Ginger Gold Schnitzer testified before the Senate and Assembly budget committees in opposition to property tax cap legislation. Pointing out the toll similar caps have exacted in California, Massachusetts and elsewhere, she urged lawmakers not to starve schools of needed resources and shortchange a generation of students. Read NJEA’s testimony. Read More

  • Voucher bill on the move! Immediate action required

    New Jersey legislators are being pressured to push the voucher bill (S-1872) on a fast track. This legislation would strip $360 million from our public schools to send students to private and religious schools, and allows corporations to receive dollar-for-dollar tax credits for contributions to “scholarship funds” to funnel the money to students. Governor Christie has already cut $1.3 billion from New Jersey’s public schools. The last thing we need to do is drain another $360 million from them, yet S-1872 would do just that. Read More

• Parents & Community

  • Families make a difference

    It may be cliché, but we all know it takes a village to raise a child. That’s one reason NJEA created FAST, Families and Schools Together Work for Children. The goal of the FAST program is to encourage families to be involved in their children’s education, to enhance their academic progress, and to feel welcome in public schools. Read More

  • Activities benefit children

    Many parents are concerned about over-scheduling their children. While it’s true that children need down-time, extra-curricular activities such as sports, music, art, drama, and student council can add value to your child’s education, build confidence, and provide insight into what their future career path may be. Here are some tips about how families can add activities to enhance their child’s learning. Read More

  • 

    Is the Cat in the Hat coming to your school?

    Each year in February and March, NJEA’s Cat in the Hat visits nearly 300 elementary schools across New Jersey to celebrate Read Across America. This is just one way NJEA works with its members to promote childhood literacy in our schools. Coming Sept. 1, members will be able to sign up online to have the Cat in the Hat visit their schools. The first 50 members who sign up for a Cat visit will receive an authentic striped stovepipe hat. Read More