Latest in NJEA Issues and Political Action

Teacher Leader bill passes assembly

Tue, 21 May 2013 17:04:00 -0400

Teachers leading teachers to improve student learning and elevate the profession is the goal of a bill passed in the Assembly by a vote of 74-2-1 on May 20.

ESP rights bill passes, awaits signature

Tue, 21 May 2013 16:28:00 -0400

On Monday, May 20, the Assembly passed NJEA’s ESP due process rights bill, A-3696/S-2163, by a vote of 51-26-1. This bill, which will give educational support professionals the right to binding arbitration in disciplinary matters, now heads to the governor’s desk to await his signature.

NJEA PAC endorses primary candidates

Tue, 21 May 2013 15:58:00 -0400

The 125-member political action committee of the 200,000-member New Jersey Education Association (NJEA) has voted to endorse 10 candidates in the New Jersey Senatorial and General Assembly Primary Election.

Special ed regulations still on the move!

Fri, 17 May 2013 11:03:00 -0400

Over the past few weeks, there have been many rumors suggesting that the proposed changes to special education regulations have been put on hold. NJEA and other special education stakeholders have NO confirmation that this information is true. The special education regulations are not on the agenda for the June State Board of Education meeting, but that does not mean they will not appear in July or August.

Assembly to vote on ESP due process rights bill

Thu, 16 May 2013 17:38:00 -0400

On Monday, May 20, the General Assembly will vote on A-3696/S-2163, sponsored by Assemblywoman Gabriela Mosquera and Senator Ray Lesniak. This due process rights bill would statutorily provide all ESPs the right to binding arbitration for disciplinary matters. If this bill passes on Monday, it will advance to the governor’s desk for his signature.

Concerns over special ed regs go unheeded

Fri, 03 May 2013 14:40:00 -0400

Despite the outcry from educators throughout the state, the State Board of Education is still considering adopting new special education regulations—a move that disregards the Education Transformation Task Force’s recommendations to have the Department of Education convene a special work group to study these regulations.

Urge Congress to make public education a priority

Thu, 02 May 2013 10:40:00 -0400

Congress rushed to fix flight delays caused by the sequester, but put tens of thousands of children on standby for Head Start. That's just one example of Congress ignoring the powerless while catching a flight home. Visit nea.org to create your own paper airplane message for Congress.

Cyberbullying in America

Wed, 10 Apr 2013 10:47:00 -0400

The Rutgers Computer & Technology Law Journal, and the Rutgers Institute for Professional Education, with the support of the Rutgers School of Law-Newark Alumni Association, are hosting a full-day symposium for “Cyberbullying in America: A Discussion of Liability, Policy, and Progress” to be held on Wednesday, April 24, 2013 at Rutgers School of Law-Newark. The symposium will include multiple panels discussing issues of criminal liability, civil liability, and building good policy in a networked age of bullying.

Assembly Ed Committee to vote on ESP due process rights bill

Tue, 12 Mar 2013 14:53:00 -0400

Once again, our ESP bills are on the move! Thursday, March 14, A-3696 will be heard by the Assembly Education Committee. This is the Assembly companion bill to S-2163, which statutorily provides due process rights to all educational support professionals.

Members, parents decry proposed special education regulation changes

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 16:09:00 -0500

Nearly 100 parents, educators, and education activists packed the March 6 State Board of Education meeting yesterday to voice their concerns about the changes to proposed special education regulations.

Activists protest unhealthy school conditions

Thu, 07 Mar 2013 11:03:00 -0500

Dozens of education advocates and community activists lined up at the March 6 meeting of the Schools Development Authority to decry unsafe conditions in many New Jersey schools.

Senate passes ESP rights bills

Mon, 04 Mar 2013 16:45:00 -0500

This afternoon, NJEA members achieved another important victory when our two ESP rights bills (S-1191 and S-2163) were released from the Senate Budget and Appropriations Committee. Both bills now head to the Senate floor for a full vote on Monday, March 18.

Special Education in Danger!

Tue, 26 Feb 2013 18:15:00 -0500

URGENT: All NJEA members are asked to contact the State Board of Education, which is considering changes in the special education regulations that would, if enacted, allow teachers and other certified staff to be designated as case managers of students with disabilities.

Assembly passes gun safety bills

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 17:35:00 -0500

The Assembly today passed a package of gun safety bills designed to protect New Jersey students and communities from gun violence. The bills cover a range of issues from weapon-free zones around schools and other public places to limits on the number of bullets a gun magazine can hold.

Senate Budget Committee to vote on key ESP rights bills

Thu, 21 Feb 2013 15:40:00 -0500

Two bills that bolster the rights of Educational Support Professionals and increase stability in public schools were released from the Senate Education Committee earlier today.

2013 Legislative Dinners

Wed, 20 Feb 2013 10:20:00 -0500

County legislative dinners are an excellent way to learn about hot educational issues, meet your state lawmakers face-to-face, and share your thoughts about making public education even better. For further details, contact your county education association office, county association president, or county government relations chairperson.

ESP bills scheduled for Senate hearing

Mon, 11 Feb 2013 15:21:00 -0500

NJEA President Barbara Keshishian joined NJEA members Annette Ruch and Lynn Cianci to testify in support of an important ESP rights bill being heard by the Assembly Education Committee. A-3627 would bring greater fairness to the process by which districts decide whether to subcontract certain jobs.

Take action on professional development

Thu, 07 Feb 2013 11:34:00 -0500

In October, the Department of Education (DOE) introduced proposed changes to Professional Development (PD) regulations that would significantly diminish your ability to make decisions about the professional learning you need to best address the needs of your students.

NJ DOE Proposal to Weaken School Nurse Certification

Thu, 31 Jan 2013 11:51:00 -0500

The New Jersey State Board of Education has proposed weakening the requirements for school nurse certification. Specifically, under their proposal, certified school nurses would no longer be required to serve in a practicum to gain the experience necessary to work as a school nurse.

NJEA testifies on proposed amendments to education code

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 15:14:00 -0500

Since the N.J. Department of Education (NJDOE) began a major overhaul of education code last fall, NJEA has been a constant presence at testimony sessions before members of the State Board of Education (SBOE). At the December SBOE meeting, NJEA Associate Director of Government Relations Francine Pfeffer testified on both the proposed amendments to the school district operations code and the educator effectiveness regulations.

NJEA, NJDOE officials meet to discuss evaluations, mentoring

Thu, 03 Jan 2013 14:52:00 -0500

The N.J. Department of Education (NJDOE) is in the process of drafting proposed regulations on several components of the Teach NJ Act, the tenure and evaluation law enacted last summer. Department officials have met with various stakeholders, including NJEA, to seek input on ideas for regulations on corrective action plans, school improvement panels, and mentoring.

NJEA supports minimum wage bill

Mon, 26 Nov 2012 14:56:00 -0500

NJEA Vice President Wendell Steinhauer spoke in support of raising the minimum wage and tying future increases to cost of living at a Nov. 19 press conference sponsored by Citizen Action.

Obama and Menendez Win!

Thu, 08 Nov 2012 10:59:00 -0500

President Barack Obama won re-election in a hard-fought victory against challenger Mitt Romney. As expected, NJEA PAC-endorsed candidate Senator Bob Menendez easily won re-election over State Senator Joe Kyrillos.

Corfield earns key national support

Thu, 11 Oct 2012 15:34:00 -0400

The campaign of NJEA member and LD 16 Assembly candidate Marie Corfield received a huge boost this week. The national Democratic Legislative Campaign Committee announced that the Corfield campaign garnered more grassroots support than any other legislative contest in the country in a search to identify essential legislative races across America.

Register to vote by Oct. 16

Mon, 01 Oct 2012 12:40:00 -0400

Tuesday, Nov. 6 is Election Day and the polls are open from 6 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Mark your calendar for Fall Focus

Wed, 12 Sep 2012 14:57:00 -0400

Every year, Fall Focus is the opportunity for local leaders meet with an NJEA officer and interact with their county leadership as well as leaders from area locals associations. You’ll leave Fall Focus ready to face the challenges of the year ahead. Every local and county association should make sure that members of their leadership teams—officers, building reps, and committee chairs---attend their county’s meeting.

Cerf finally confirmed as commissioner

Mon, 10 Sep 2012 16:00:00 -0400

It took longer than he hoped, but Christopher Cerf has been confirmed as New Jersey’s commissioner of education. He has been serving in that same role in an “acting” capacity for 18 months.

A ‘win-win’ for students, teachers, and the public

Mon, 06 Aug 2012 07:48:00 -0400

NJEA President Barbara Keshishian led a contingent of organization representatives to the Aug. 6 signing by Governor Christie of historic tenure reform legislation. “We’re happy to have been a part of the process that created this law,” Keshishian said. “It should go a long way to help us reach the goal of providing every child with the best teacher.”

NJEA PAC Announces Support for Candidates

Sat, 04 Aug 2012 16:01:00 -0400

The New Jersey Education Association’s 125-member political action committee has voted to recommend for endorsement President Barack Obama for re-election, U.S. Senator Bob Menendez for re-election, and 11 candidates, including seven incumbents, for election to the U.S. Congress. In addition, NJEA PAC has endorsed Marie Corfield for the New Jersey State Assembly in District 16.

NJEA PAC endorses Marie Corfield for Assembly

Tue, 17 Jul 2012 14:19:31 -0400

The New Jersey Education Association’s 125-member political action committee (NJEA PAC) has endorsed NJEA member and Flemington art teacher Marie Corfield (D) for Assembly in the 16th Legislative District. In 2011, Corfield ran for the Assembly in Legislative District 16 against Republican incumbent Pete Biondi. Biondi passed away in November 2011, necessitating a special election this year.

NJEA applauds passage of tenure reform bill

Mon, 02 Jul 2012 10:31:51 -0400

NJEA President Barbara Keshishian applauded the Assembly’s passage of tenure reform legislation today that closely resembles the proposal laid out by the union last fall. The 79-0 vote, following on the heels of last week’s 40-0 vote in the Senate, was the culmination of months of meetings and discussions involving legislators and education stakeholders from across the state.

NJDOE announces changes to use of student achievement measures

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:34:59 -0400

Districts participating in the first year of the pilot teacher evaluation program were recently notified by the N.J. Department of Education (NJDOE) about changes to some components of student achievement measures used to evaluate teachers. For teachers in tested grades (4-8) and subjects (math and language arts), student growth percentiles (SGP) on state assessments (where two consecutive years of data are available) will be calculated. These SGPs will account for 35-45 percent of the teacher’s summative rating.

Second teacher evaluation program has important differences from this year’s trial

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:33:20 -0400

In late March, the N.J. Department of Education (NJDOE) released a Notice of Grant Opportunity (NGO) for up to 20 additional districts to participate in the second year of the pilot teacher evaluation program. The 10 districts participating in the first pilot program can continue with the pilot program in year two, with reduced funding.

Governor expected to sign bill that changes NJ STARS scholarship program

Mon, 07 May 2012 16:32:16 -0400

Both houses of the state Legislature have passed a bill that would save a popular scholarship program, and Gov. Chris Christie is expected to sign the bill. The New Jersey Student Tuition Assistance Rewards Scholarship (NJ STARS) is a state-sponsored, merit-based scholarship designed to reward academic excellence to outstanding high school graduates. To qualify for the scholarship, New Jersey students must graduate from their local high school within the top 15 percent of their class. NJ STARS provides a scholarship for students to attend their local community colleges.

Task force to study school-lunch program

Fri, 20 Apr 2012 16:58:13 -0400

Gov. Chris Christie has announced the members of the N.J. Education Funding Task Force, which he created in March by issuing Executive Order No. 89. The task force is charged “with examining the State’s school funding formula and developing recommendations for the governor concerning those areas of the formula that may be susceptible to fraud or subject to outside manipulation, including, but not limited to, participation in the Federal Free and Reduced Price Lunch Program.”

DelColle to be honored by Sen. Menendez

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 15:46:34 -0400

Sen. Robert Menendez will recognize New Jersey’s 2012 Teacher of the Year Jeanne DelColle at his third annual Women of Distinction Awards Ceremony on Sunday, March 11. In honor of his mother, Menendez will present DelColle and five others with an “Evangelina Menendez Trailblazer Award. Lisa P. Jackson, administrator of the Environmental Protection Agency, will keynote at this event celebrating Women’s History Month.

Cerf discusses state assessments with NJEA Instruction Committee

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 14:17:16 -0400

Acting Commissioner of Education Chris Cerf and members of his staff attended a meeting of the NJEA Instruction Committee last month. The purpose of the visit was for Department of Education (DOE) officials to explain the transition from New Jersey’s current system of standardized tests (NJ ASK and HSPA) to assessments that measure student achievement in mathematics and English/language arts under the new Common Core State Standards (CCSS).

Christie signs anti-bullying fix

Tue, 27 Mar 2012 13:39:05 -0400

On March 27, Gov. Chris Christie signed S-1789¸ which amends the Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act and appropriates $1 million for a Bullying Prevention Fund. S-1789 was drafted when the state Council on Local Mandates struck down the anti-bulling law signed in January 2011. The council found that the law imposed unfunded mandates on local school districts.

Anti-bullying law struck down by Council on Local mandates

Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:54:12 -0400

The State Council on Local Mandates has struck down New Jersey’s anti-bullying law as an unfunded mandate. The Allumuchy school district (Warren County) fought the law, known as the “Anti-Bullying Bill of Rights Act,” on the basis that it imposed costs unjustly on school districts that were required to execute it. The ruling, which was made in late January, does not go into effect until the council issues its formal opinion in about 60 days.

USDOE program aims to elevate status of teachers

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 11:24:56 -0500

The U.S. Department of Education has launched a project to ensure that teaching is highly respected and supported as a profession. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan announced the program called RESPECT (Recognizing Educational Success, Professional Excellence, and Collaborative Teaching) at a town hall meeting last month.

New Jersey granted NCLB waiver

Mon, 27 Feb 2012 15:18:29 -0500

New Jersey is one of 10 states that has been granted a waiver from some of the provisions of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) by the U.S. Department of Education. States receiving waivers no longer have to meet 2014 targets set by NCLB. This includes the requirement that 100 percent of students would demonstrate proficiency in all subjects tested. In exchange for the waiver, states must set new performance targets for improving student achievement and closing achievement gaps.

Report says policymakers should focus on creating collaboration, not competition, among teachers

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:47:45 -0500

Merit pay programs that reward teachers based solely on their students' standardized test scores do little to improve student achievement or help to attract and retain good teachers in high-need areas, according to a new report. “Creating Teacher Incentives for School Excellence and Equity” was released last month.

N.J. to receive Race to the Top funds

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:47:27 -0500

Perhaps the third time was a charm. New Jersey will receive $38 million in federal Race to the Top 3 (RTTT3) grant funds. The award is substantially less than the $400-500 million New Jersey could have won under RTTT1 and RTTT2. Half of the $38 million will go to participating districts, while the other half will be used to support Gov. Chris Christie’s education reform agenda.

Study: NCLB led to lost decade for school progress

Tue, 07 Feb 2012 17:44:19 -0500

A new study marking the 10th anniversary of No Child Left Behind (NCLB) finds that the law “failed badly both in terms of its own goals and more broadly.” Published by the National Center for Fair and Open Testing (FairTest), the study reviewed National Assessment of Educational Progress (NAEP) scores and other data.

Frequently asked questions on the November School Elections Bill

Thu, 26 Jan 2012 16:11:05 -0500

On Jan. 17, Gov. Chris Christie signed a bill, P.L.2011, c.202, allowing districts, municipalities, or voters to opt to move the annual school election to the general election in November. This action eliminates the vote on school budgets for such districts, except for separate proposals to spend above the cap. For instance, if the proposed budget is at or below cap, then there will be no public vote on the budget. Here are frequently asked questions and answers about this bill.

Be a part of the education reform discussion

Fri, 20 Jan 2012 15:56:03 -0500

Set aside Saturday, Feb. 25 for the NJEA Walter J. O’Brien Legislative Conference at the Westin Princeton at Forrestal Village. The annual conference is your opportunity to get educated, organized, and involved in the legislative issues that affect every public school employee. In addition to a general session, members have an opportunity to meet with legislators to discuss the issues.

NJEA continues to monitor pilot teacher evaluation program

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:30:00 -0500

Ten school districts and 19 schools that are receiving School Improvement Grants (SIG) continue to implement the state’s proposed teacher evaluation program, and NJEA continues to monitor the pilot. The Evaluation Pilot Advisory Committee (EPAC) is monitoring the impact of the pilot program and is to provide feedback to the NJDOE. NJEA Secretary-Treasurer Marie Blistan is a member of EPAC.

Governor appoints NJEA members to special task force

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:04:07 -0500

Gov. Chris Christie has appointed two NJEA members to the N.J. Special Education and Traumatic Brain Injury Awareness Task Force. Vernon Township High School teacher and Athletic Trainers’ Society of New Jersey member Joanne Ploch and Howell Township special education teacher Linda Levine will serve on the 17-member body.

State Board to address achievement gap

Thu, 05 Jan 2012 16:00:00 -0500

The N.J. State Board of Education's Closing the Achievement Gap Task Force has held its initial meetings and plans to hold regional public hearings to gather input on how to best address the State's academic achievement gap. The 10-member task force, which stems from the State Board's annual retreat in June, was created “to examine why many poor and minority students in New Jersey do not score as well on state standardized tests as their more-affluent and white counterparts.”

Public Employees’ Sick Leave Bills

Fri, 16 Dec 2011 10:07:55 -0500

Currently, there are at least two bills that seek to curb the compensation public employees receive for their accumulated sick leave. S-2220 (Sarlo) was conditionally vetoed by Gov. Christie in December 2010. The most recent bill was introduced in November 2011 by Assemblywoman Pamela Lampitt as a response to the governor.