ELC News Release - Four In Twenty-Ten
            NEWS RELEASE
                  FOUR IN TWENTY-TEN
                  ELC SPELLS-OUT LEGISLATIVE PRIORITIES TO STRENGTHEN NJ PUBLIC 
                  SCHOOLS
                  Trenton, NJ, February 1, 2010
                  ELC is calling on the NJ Legislature to redouble efforts to 
                  advance the state's historic gains in education equity, 
                  identifying the four most pressing challenges of the coming 
                  year.
                  These are: fair school funding, effective school reform, 
                  preschool expansion, and school construction.
                  ELC Executive Director David Sciarra presented this agenda for 
                  reform  and renewal of NJ's public schools at a hearing of the 
                  Senate Education Committee on February 1st. 
                  In prepared remarks to the Committee, Mr. Sciarra spelled out 
                  the challenges for the Legislature in each area.
                  Fair School Funding
                  The Legislature is legally obligated to fully fund our new 
                  funding formula, the School Funding Reform Act (SFRA). ELC 
                  estimates an increase of $60 million in new state aid will be 
                  required, which will go mainly to moderate and middle income 
                  school districts.
                  In addition to full formula funding, the Commissioner is 
                  legally obligated in 2010 to study and assess the impact the 
                  formula, particularly on high needs districts, students in 
                  poverty, students with disabilities and other special needs. 
                  The Legislature must then by law sign off on the 
                  Commissioner's review by next November. 
                  Effective School Reform
                  A new framework for school level reform in high needs 
                  districts is urgently needed, particularly since the 
                  Department of Education let lapse prior reform efforts. It is 
                  essential that a new initiative be developed that will ensure 
                  funding is effectively used to advance quality instruction and 
                  outcomes in low performing district and charter schools.
                  High Quality Preschool
                  The nationally recognized Abbott preschool program in urban 
                  districts must be sustained and strengthened, while expansion 
                  to another 82 high poverty districts should begin, as required 
                  under the SFRA formula.
                  School Construction
                  The Legislature must ensure the Schools Development Authority 
                  secures a new round of bond financing to move projects in the 
                  pre-development pipeline to construction and completion, and 
                  to continue efforts to improve management of the construction 
                  program.
                  Mr. Sciarra noted the tremendous gains in educational equity 
                  achieved by New Jersey after a decade of effort, as compared 
                  to other states and the nation. "But we cannot rest on past 
                  accomplishments until every student has access to a high 
                  quality public education," he added. "It is my hope that 
                  legislators can remain focused in the year ahead on the hard 
                  work of reaching this goal."
                        Related Articles:
                        NJ Sweeps The Educational Oscars
                        Time To Restore, Expand, Abbott Reforms
                        Education Law Center Press Contact: 
                        Sharon Krengel
                        Policy & Outreach Coordinator
                        email: skrengel@edlawcenter.org 
                        voice: 973 624-1815 x24  

                  Copyright © 2009 Education Law Center. All Rights Reserved. 

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