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Race To The Top

July 27, 2010 by · Comments Off on Race To The Top 

Race To The TopRace To The Top, New Jersey has been named one of 19 governments that make the final round of the federal government “race to the Top”konkurrensen on the part of the $ 3.4 billion education aid.

Gov. Chris Christie welcomed the news Tuesday but also took the opportunity to again criticize the New Jersey Education Association, Statewide teachers union.

“President Obama and the (U.S.) Secretary (Education) Duncan today recognized our administration’s plan for bold reform of our state education system,”Christie said.

“This statement confirms our decision to stick to real reform and not capitulate to the watered-down, not the status quo strategy that NJEA is now time for New Jersey leaders to join with me to start the adoption of the pillars of real education reform in our Race to the Top Application – more opportunities for charter school students, more choice to parents and loyalty to placing student success before union self-interest. ”

NJEA President Barbara Keshishian, issued the following statement today:

“Gov. Chris Christie has used what should be good news – New Jersey’s choice for the finals and 400 million in federal” Race to the Top “funding – to once again attack the NJEA and its members.

“It’s a tired act, and it must stop. The governor – who has cut and 1.4 billion from public education, leading to layoffs of thousands of teachers and deep cuts in programs that will hurt students badly – now want to get people to believe he is a champion of public education. ”

The NJEA joined in support of the application for funding. It did not oppose the 2009 bid.

Wall Street Journal reported Tuesday that while New Jersey is a finalist, it does not seem to be as strong position as New York, another finalist, going into the final round.

The newspaper also reported that New Jersey’s application makes promises on teacher evaluations and other areas, is the guarantees are not backed by any legislative action or agreement from teachers’ unions.

“It could be argued that New Jersey has a lot of work to do before they could carry on a state-wide reform effort,” Charles Barone, federal policy director of Democrats for Education Reform, told the newspaper.

Thirty-five states and the District of Columbia applied for a portion of the 3.4 billion. Besides New Jersey and New York, Arizona, California, Colorado, District of Columbia, Florida, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Massachusetts, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island and South Carolina did last round.

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