Tag: New Jersey Total: 44 results found.
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National School Choice Week: Member Spotlight
This week is National School Choice Week, a nationwide celebration highlighting options in education. As a teacher in a public charter school in Jersey City, I am proud to part of the growing school choice movement here in New Jersey.
2014 Election Recap: A New Future for Education on the Horizon, AAE Weighs In
What does $60 million buy you? Apparently not votes. Continue Reading...
New Standardized Assessments in New York Raise Testing Questions
posted by: Ruthie | October 16, 2012, 07:43 am
In New York, the eminent commencement of new "field tests" garnered the attention of several parents and caused the subsequent boycotting of their children's participation in statewide testing. The story has yielded national headlines and has once again raised questions over the frequency of standardized testing in schools. Continue Reading...
AAE Launches New Website for Charter School Audience in Conjunction with National Charter Schools Week
posted by: Alix | May 04, 2012, 04:49 pm
AAE is pleased to announce the launch of our charter-focused website: www.AAECharters.org just in time for National Charter Schools Week. The new site is geared toward charter school administrators, leaders, teachers, and associations searching for timely updates and research on issues affecting the public charter school community. Continue Reading...
First Virtual Charter School Coming to New Jersey
posted by: Alix | April 12, 2012, 11:56 am
For the first time in the state's history, New Jersey is set to welcome their first online public charter school this fall. The New Jersey Virtual Academy Charter School (NJVACS), operating in partnership with the online education company, K12 Inc., has already begun to spread the word about their offerings statewide and currently boasts 300 enrolled students for the fall term. The opening of the school marks New Jersey's first big step into full-time online instruction, part of a new trend that has become commonplace in states across the country. Continue Reading...
Great American Teach Off Awarding $10,000 Grant
posted by: Alix | February 08, 2012, 02:25 pm
Over the past few years, education reform has been a hot topic nearly nationwide. While the examination of our system is prudent it is critical to recognize the amazing work our educators are doing across the country. For the second year in a row, GOOD and University of Phoenix are launching The Great American Teach-Off—a nationwide competition that will identify classroom heroes and reward one with a $10,000 grant to use towards his or her classroom. Continue Reading...
Welcome to National School Choice Week 2012!
posted by: Alix | January 23, 2012, 03:10 pm
This week is National School Choice Week – a national movement of grassroots organizations calling for more educational options. AAE supports National School Choice Week because we support educators in all settings and applauds their individual choices about where they practice their profession. Continue Reading...
Teacher Evaluation Plans in NCLB Waiver Proposals
posted by: Alix | November 28, 2011, 05:36 pm
With the overhaul of No Child Left Behind taking longer than expected, Secretary of Education Arne Duncan and the Obama administration introduced an NCLB waiver plan back in September that would allow states to apply for regulatory relief in exchange for key reforms. In the months following, while 11 states applied for the waivers, over half of the proposals did not outline specific teacher evaluation components. Continue Reading...
School Districts Selling Ad Space to Raise Revenue
posted by: Alix | November 22, 2011, 11:17 am
In the wake of the crippling recession and its decimating impact on state and local budgets, school districts across the country are searching for innovative ways of raising funds. In a bizarre turn, districts in states like Colorado, Utah, and New Jersey are selling advertisement space on everything from school buses to report cards. While the ideas will certainly be revenue generating, members of the public are beginning to call the moves inappropriate for the public school setting. Continue Reading...
Unions Take Education and Labor Battles to Courts
posted by: Alix | September 27, 2011, 05:04 pm
2011 is shaping up to be the year of education and labor reform nearly nationwide. In March, 48 states were considering labor reform bills on the heels of major Republican gains in state legislatures across the country. What started as legislative progress and meaningful education reform in states like Indiana, Florida, and Idaho, has yielded an unprecedented backlash from unions who are literally fighting for their very survival in long drawn out court battles that are leaving many commonsense policies in limbo.
Government Officials Answer Tough Questions about Their Children's Education
There is no doubt that we are facing difficult circumstances in American public schools. Budget shortfalls and the need for commonsense reforms have dominated headlines for years. While mayors, governors, and superintendents make the tough decisions regarding our nation's school systems, it is just in recent memory that private decisions regarding where they send their own children to school have made national headlines of their own. Continue Reading...
AAE State Policy Update June 20, 2011
posted by: Ruthie | June 20, 2011, 11:24 am
With the 2011 legislative session at an end in many states, the dust is now settling on some of the most sweeping education and labor reforms we've have seen in generations. While each state has experienced reform and change on different levels, it is impossible to ignore the ground-breaking impact these laws will have on the future of labor relations and education across the country.
New Jersey Governor Unveils Public-Private Partnership Program
Last week, New Jersey Governor Chris Christie proposed legislation allowing for the privatization of the five lowest-performing schools in the state. The pilot program would transfer control to private school-management companies after school board approval in an effort to produce a turnaround. Since the late 1980's, the state has experienced low-performing schools despite record-setting spending as mandated by the New Jersey Supreme Court. Consequently, state residents pay more per student in the state's impoverished districts than in wealthy districts, resulting in the nation's highest local property tax and little improvement in schools.
"Double-Dipping" Under Fire
With states across the country facing budget shortfalls and underfunded pensions, the concept of "double-dipping," or collecting both a state pension and salary has come under fire from various states seeking to rein in spending. From California to New York, many employees have been accused of unethically boosting their incomes by also taking a state pension, pushing certain state legislators to back state pension reform legislation. Continue Reading...
LIFO in Today's Education Climate
posted by: Alix | May 12, 2011, 10:44 am
With another school year winding down, we are again hearing stories about young, often first- or second-year teachers and their being laid off due to budget cuts. The fact that states across the country are facing historic budget shortfalls shouldn't be news to anyone. Clearly this sobering reality will have an impact on education budgets, but what if the union-backed policy of "last in, first out" punishes good teachers and impacts parents seeking a quality teacher for their child? Sadly, LIFO has become just that: forcing new teachers out without any regard to their performance. Continue Reading...
A Visit to the Garden State
posted by: Alix | April 21, 2011, 01:41 pm
New Jersey has been considered the center of the education reform world for months. Led by tough-talking Governor Chris Christie, the state has seen its recent share of national headlines. What started as a war of words between Christie and the NJEA has continued to develop into real life reform plans, even yielding commentary and visits from the Obama administration. Continue Reading...
New Jersey Governor Outlines New Teacher Evaluation Plan
This has been a big week for the state of New Jersey in education, again centered on outspoken Governor Chris Christie. In an interview with ABC News that aired Wednesday, Christie said he puts blame on the unions for resisting change that he thinks will benefit students in the long run. He was both revered and attacked for calling NJEA officials "union thugs". Not only did Governor Christie again make headlines for his harsh words for the union, but a new and long awaited plan to evaluate teachers in the state. Continue Reading...
AAE Federal Update April 4, 2011
House Reauthorizes SOAR Act Continue Reading...
News Study Sheds Light on KIPP Charter Schools
posted by: Alix | March 31, 2011, 10:21 am
The Knowledge is Power Program, or KIPP, has been celebrated as one of the most ground breaking networks of charter schools in the country. KIPP's success in significantly narrowing race and income based achievement gaps has been proven in study after study due to their aggressive and innovative approach to student learning. While KIPP's student outcomes success has been researched at length, a new study by Western Michigan University researchers sheds light on KIPP individual students and funding. Continue Reading...
AAE and the Issue of Forced Unionism
posted by: Alix | March 25, 2011, 01:58 pm
In light of the labor battles brewing across the country, members and others interested in our organization have inquired about AAE's position on compulsory unionism, forced dues, strikes, and sick-outs. Continue Reading...
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