GOVERNOR MURPHY: FILL ALL EXPIRED SEATS ON STATE BOARD OF EDUCATION

Advocates Press for Confirmation of Recent Nominees and More Appointments

November 10, 2022

The State Board of Education (SBOE) plays a pivotal role in supervising New Jersey’s public schools, adopting rules to implement the Legislature’s laws, advancing Executive Branch policies, and ensuring compliance with constitutional requirements. The SBOE is a dynamic institution, with members serving six-year terms.

Governor Phil Murphy has neglected this critical function of his Administration by allowing 11 of the 13 members of the SBOE to remain after their appointments by prior governors have expired and, in some cases, years ago.

Bowing to pressure from education and civil rights advocates, Governor Murphy on September 29 finally nominated three new members to fill the expired seats of the SBOE President, Vice President, and that of another expired member. As required by law, the Senate must confirm the nominees before they can begin their Board service.

While a start, three nominees after five years in office is not nearly enough. By June 2023, if Governor Murphy’s nominees are seated, the 10 remaining Board members will be occupying expired seats.

Advocates are not letting up. They are demanding the Governor follow his three nominations with additional appointments. This is crucial for the State Board to function properly, continuously refreshed with new perspectives reflective of the current Administration, and as intended by law.

The SBOE is responsible for the “general supervision of public education” throughout the state. The policies and rules overseen by the SBOE range from the certification and professional development of teachers and other school staff to curriculum standards and student assessment, as well as many other education topics and concerns. For that reason, the law gives governors the power to appoint members to the State Board to reflect Executive Branch educational priorities and not those of former governors no longer in office.

Our Children/Our Schools (OC/OS) recently launched a campaign to remedy an expired SBOE and press Governor Murphy to fulfill his legal obligation to properly manage the state’s public school system. OC/OS intends to push the Senate to quickly confirm the three new appointments and any future nominees, while insisting the Governor do his part in the confirmation process and keep up a steady stream of nominations until the State Board is no longer packed with expired seats.

“After five years, we are pleased Governor Murphy has put forth three nominees to the State Board to serve our state’s 1.3 million public school students,” said Sharon Krengel, Education Law Center Director of Policy, Strategic Partnerships and Communications. “But the Governor has just started his job. We will not let him take the focus off the Board until all expired seats are filled with members who represent his Administration’s policies and priorities for our public schools.”

Join Our Children/Our Schools on November 14 at 6:30 p.m. for: “Time’s Up: The Urgent Need to Appoint Members to Expired Seats on the New Jersey State Board of Education.” This virtual forum features Julie Borst, Executive Director, Save Our Schools NJ Community Organizing; Dr. Leah Owens, Founder, Just Writing and Former Newark Board of Education Member; Stan Karp, Director, Secondary Reform Project, Education Law Center; Anfal Muhammad Jenkins, Executive Director, Newark Special Education Parent Advisory Council; and is moderated by Kaleena Berryman, Co-Convenor, Our Children/Our Schools. Register here.

Press Contact:

Sharon Krengel
Director of Policy, Strategic Partnerships and Communications
skrengel@edlawcenter.org
973-624-1815, x 24

Press Contact:
Sharon Krengel
Director of Policy, Strategic Partnerships and Communications
skrengel@edlawcenter.org
973-624-1815, x240