newjerseynewsroom.com

BY BOB HOLT

NEWJERSEYNEWSROOM.COM

Cutting teacher tenure and a greater choice of schools were on top of Governor Christie's education agenda during his first State of the State address.

Christie sent a strong message by inviting Michelle Rhee, the often controversial former chancellor of the Washington D.C. public schools, to attend the event. Rhee has started a movement called "Students First" and lists New Jersey as one of the states where they are collaborating on school reform.

Defenders of teacher tenure often argue that is not a lifetime job guarantee but a path marked by due process. The legislature sets the rules for tenure, but the state education department can set standards for evaluating teachers.

Christie has asked a task force to deliver recommendations for grading teachers and reforming tenure. It was unclear from the speech how the governor's call for eliminating tenure would translate into practice.

According to the Wall Street Journal, in New Jersey, teachers get tenure after three years. Tenured teachers can be dismissed after a judicial process, but critics say the process is too long and costly.

According to the Press of Atlantic City, the state Department of Education is expected to announce as soon as next week both new charter schools and which public school districts are approved as "choice" schools to accept students from other towns. The approved schools could begin taking new students in September. The applicants include five charter and four choice schools in Atlantic County, six choice schools in Cape May County, three choice schools and one charter school in Cumberland County and six choice schools in Ocean County.

John Cressey, superintendent of the small western Atlantic County Estell Manor school, said without additional state aid, there is little reason for a district to take in additional students.

NJ1015.com reported the governor said he'll also push for passage of the Opportunity Scholarship Act, a pilot school choice program that offers tax credits to corporations that contribute to scholarships for children in failing schools to attend private or parochial school or public schools in another district.

Christie said he calls the idea "parental choice" rather than "school choice" because it gives parents "the best opportunity to choose the best education for their child."

Christie said he'll address the achievement gap that still exists between wealthy and poor districts despite massive amounts of money being poured into poor districts in an attempt to raise test scores and graduation rates. He said he'll call for more charter schools and for a rule change to allow struggling districts to hire superintendents who lack experience as educators. The administration put that proposal before the state Board of Education last week.

While Christie said many changes have bi-partisan support, his relations with the New Jersey Education Association, is still strained.

In a statement, NJEA president Barbara Keshishian said they are willing and eager to enter the discussion over education and pension reform, but that Christie's comments don't match reality. She criticized Christie for blaming all problems on unions and teachers while ignoring his own and the state's role in some of the current problems.