Education Leaders Support Christie Education Reform Agenda
New Jersey School Boards Association Executive Director Marie S. Bilik, “We welcome the proposed changes in the current tenure and seniority systems”:
“The New Jersey School Boards Association expressed its strong support for proposals to reform teacher tenure outlined today by Gov. Chris Christie in an address to an education reform conference in New York City. The forum was sponsored by the Brookings Institution, a Washington-based non-profit public policy and research organization. “Governor Christie has set a far-reaching agenda for education improvement in New Jersey,” said Marie S. Bilik, NJSBA executive director. “In particular, we welcome the proposed changes in the current tenure and seniority systems. “For more than 30 years, NJSBA has sought replacement of lifetime teacher tenure with a system that would base employment decisions on job performance. The governor’s proposal would enable local school districts to decide personnel matters based on the quality of instruction, unimpeded by restrictive laws that are no longer needed.” … “These protections, not in place in 1909, make tenure unnecessary today,” said Bilik. “Tenure now serves as nothing more than a lifetime system of job protection that makes removal of an underperforming teacher difficult, time-consuming and expensive. “Teachers should not fear tenure reform,” she continued. “The majority of our teachers are dedicated professionals, and state-to-state comparisons of overall student performance illustrate the high level of achievement in New Jersey.” She continued, “A key element of the proposed reforms will be a fair and consistent evaluation system that is based on student performance and which will have the confidence of the teachers and the supervisors who will administer it. Governor Christie and Acting Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf have stressed that development of such a system will be a key part of the reform plan. “We look forward to working with the Administration and the Legislature on reforms to the tenure, seniority and evaluation,” said Bilik.” (“N.J. School Boards Association Backs Governor’s Tenure Reform Plan,” New Jersey School Boards Association News Release, 4/7/2011)
Excellent Education for Everyone (E3) Executive Director Derrell Bradford, “The Christie proposals reflect many of the best practices being embraced by the national education reform community”:
“E3′s staff and leadership team wholeheartedly support Governor Christie’s efforts to make student learning the key measure by which teacher effectiveness is judged. By prioritizing teacher measurement, evaluation, and support, and redesigning tenure and assignment policies, the Christie proposals emphasize the importance of classroom teachers, particularly when they are charged with our neediest students. “The current culture of public education only prioritizes student achievement when the news is good,” said E3 Executive Director Derrell Bradford. “Student data is not a one-sided coin, and the bad news is just as important as the good. How students perform tells us a great deal about what they know and don’t know. And we can learn a great deal about how effective the teachers and leaders of their schools are as a result. We’ve run away from this common sense conclusion in the past. Governor Christie’s proposals run right to it.” The Christie proposals reflect many of the best practices being embraced by the national education reform community. Multiple measures, mutual consent, and multiple observations are key pillars of teacher performance and placement reforms. Most importantly, the Governor’s proposals would reform Last In First Out (LIFO) provisions, which ensure that, in the event of downsizing, teachers are fired based not on how well they’ve taught, but how long they’ve taught. And these policies have a greater effect on students who are in high poverty or high minority schools.” (“E3 Supports Governor Christie’s Effort to Recruit, Retain, Reward the Best Teachers, and Remove Those Who Are Ineffective,” Excellent Education for Everyone (E3) Press Release, 4/7/2011)
New Jersey Charter Schools Association President and CEO Carlos Perez, “We support the governor’s education reform agenda and welcome his proposals to improve the effectiveness of New Jersey educators in all public schools”:
“We support the governor’s education reform agenda and welcome his proposals to improve the effectiveness of New Jersey educators in all public schools. We have supported the governor’s bold reforms throughout the year, and we especially appreciate his continued support for expanding high quality charter public schools as part of his comprehensive plan to provide greater choice, flexibility and innovation in every child’s education. “The positive impact of charter schools in New Jersey is undeniable. The vast majority of charter schools outperform the traditional public schools in the districts where they are located. The governor has recognized charter schools as one successful model of public education. With his continued support and the support of the legislature, we hope to create an environment that fosters the growth of quality charter schools.” (“NJCSA Statement on Governor Chris Christie’s Education Reforms,” New Jersey Charter Schools Association Press Release, 4/7/2011)
New Jersey Catholic Conference, “We support Governor Christie’s efforts to provide more flexibility in decisions by site administrators”:
“The New Jersey Catholic Conference, representing the Catholic Bishops of New Jersey, supports the far-reaching reform agenda proposed by Governor Chris Christie. We believe it represents an opportunity to create more dialogue on meaningful educational issues among key stakeholders in the New Jersey educational community. Governor Christie has consistently recognized the role played by nonpublic schools in general, and Catholic schools in particular, in creating his educational agenda. While our schools are not subject to the requirements placed on public education in New Jersey, in the past we have freely embraced a number of those important concepts, including extensive professional development for teachers, teacher certification, and other specific programs designed to create effective teachers. We support Governor Christie’s efforts to provide more flexibility in decisions by site administrators, as is currently the practice in most nonpublic schools in New Jersey. We continue to review the specifics of Governor Christie’s unique proposals for their applicability and adaption in our schools and wish to remain part of the future discussions on these reforms.” (New Jersey Catholic Conference Supports Putting New Jersey’s Children First, New Jersey Catholic Conference, 4/7/2011)
Elizabeth School Superintendent Pablo Munoz, Governor Christie is courageously moving “the discussion forward on how to reform public education”:
“In Elizabeth, the fourth largest city in the state, a school spokesman said roughly 12 teachers are on administrative leave because it is so hard to fire them. “Chris Christie is a courageous Governor and an excellent leader as he has been able to move the discussion forward on how to reform public education,” said Superintendent Pablo Munoz.” (Brian Thompson, “Teachers React Cautiously to Christie’s Tenure Reform Plan,” NBC New York, 4/8/2011)
Topics: 2011, accountability, administration, America, business, E3, economic development, economic growth, Economy, education, Education Transformation Task Force, Elizabeth School, employment, Excellent Education for Everyone, Governance, government, Governor Chris Christie, investment, jobs, learning, Marie S. Bilik, moniter, monitor, New Jersey, New Jersey Catholic Conference, New Jersey Charter Schools Association, news, QSAC, Quality Single Accountability Continuum, reform, school, School Boards Association, students, U.S., United States, US
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