News
All ELC news stories are archived here in reverse chronological order. They are also categorized by state in the menu on the left, with New Jersey further broken out into separate subject areas.
COMMISSIONER SECRETLY CHANGES ABBOTT RULES
Published on: May 26, 2004
NJ Education Commissioner William Librera has again revised the State's Abbott rules, this time behind closed doors.
BROWN, ABBOTT AND NJ'S SEGREGATED PUBLIC SCHOOLS
Published on: May 21, 2004
The 50th anniversary of the Brown v. Board ruling ending legal segregation in public schools puts the spotlight on a troubling reality: New Jersey’s K-12 public schools remain among the most segregated in the nation.
COMMISSIONER SEEKS TO EXTEND PRE-K TEACHER CERTIFICATION DEADLINE
Published on: May 19, 2004
NJ Commissioner of Education William Librera filed an application with the NJ Supreme Court on May 18 requesting an extension of the September 2004 deadline for certification of all Abbott preschool teachers.
STILL SEPARATE, STILL UNEQUAL
Published on: May 18, 2004
On the 50th anniversary of the landmark desegregation case, Brown v. Board of Education, African-American students in New Jersey continue to be over-represented in special education and are placed in segregated settings at much higher rates than their white counterparts with disastrous consequences, according to data released by a coalition of advocacy organizations today.
ELC CALLS ON COMMISSIONER TO ENSURE TIMELY BUDGET DECISIONS
Published on: May 11, 2004
ELC is urging the NJ Department of Education to issue final and complete decisions on Abbott district budgets for 04-05 by the May 28th deadline set by the NJ Supreme Court.
SCHOOL PRINCIPALS CALL FOR FACILITIES TO MEET CURRICULUM REQUIREMENTS
Published on: May 10, 2004
New Jersey’s school principals find that their school buildings come up short in meeting specific curricula needs, such as science, music/art, physical and special education, preschool and after-school activities, and community access.
DISTRICTS’ COURT WIN RESTORES OVER $90M IN SUPPLEMENTAL PROGRAMS
Published on: May 5, 2004
The Abbott districts’ successful legal challenge to NJ Department of Education FY04 budget cuts has resulted in the restoration of over $90 million in Abbott supplemental programs.
MASSACHUSETTS COURT RECOMMENDS PRESCHOOL FOR ALL AT-RISK 3- AND 4-YEAR OLDS
Published on: April 29, 2004
In a ruling similar to New Jersey's Abbott case, a Massachusetts judge, in declaring that state's school funding system unconstitutional, directed the Commonwealth to provide a free, public preschool program for all low-income children, children with disabilities, and children with limited English proficiency.