Our Children/Our Schools
A newsletter about New Jersey school funding and reform
  November 2009 - Issue 22
In This Issue
Resources

The Garden State has been a national leader in school funding equity. But the School Funding Reform Act of 2008 may change that. The new aid formula underfunds many New Jersey schools and programs and removes the historic Abbott "special needs" designation for poor, urban schools. In addition, the new formula does little to change New Jersey's over-reliance on local property taxes to fund education. Our Children/Our Schools seeks to inform the public debate on these important issues and advocate for high quality education for all New Jersey children.

The October 17 education forum - "Are We There Yet? Moving All Children Forward in Public Education" - sponsored by OC/OS and held at the Trenton Board of Education Offices featured a panel discussion, a question and answer session, and small group discussions.
Education Forum participants, divided into small groups and prompted by questions provided by OC/OS, discussed current issues in public education in New Jersey, touching on a wide range of challenges and possible solutions.
New Jersey's budget isn't the only crisis waiting for Governor-elect Chris Christie. The new Governor and his Education Commissioner will have some key decisions to make about state high school graduation policy.
The PTA of the Dane Barse Elementary School in Vineland invited Lauren Hill, Project Director of the Education Law Center's Camden Initiative, to discuss recent developments in public education in New Jersey. Hill also spoke to parents about Our Children/Our Schools.
Over 120 Jersey City parents and community members attended an October meeting with the superintendent, Dr. Charles Epps, and several high school principals and district administrators. The meeting was organized by PCUE, the Jersey City chapter of the Statewide Education Organizing Committee, as part of its high school campaign, "Graduation for All!"
N.J. Governor-Elect's Education Agenda Eyed
Responding to Christie's Vow to Make Cuts, Red Bank Schools Chief Invites Him to See Pre-K Program
Brainstorming: Superintendent, Parents Put Heads Together to Improve High Schools
Small Local School Districts Likely Test Case for Regionalization
N.J. Eligible for $200M in Grants Aimed at Educational Reform
High Schools Start Kids Early Preparing for State Exam
New Jersey's Decades-Long School Finance Case: So, What's the Payoff?
Fried: Tax Surcharge Could Solve Schools' Dollar Woes
Abbott Leadership Institute Class Series 16: "Parents, Politics & Power: What does it take to win the Newark School Board Election?" Final class of series: "Surviving Election Day: How Parents Can Get Out the Vote," Saturday, December 5, 10 a.m. to 1 p.m., Conklin Hall Room 100, Rutgers University-Newark. For more information, contact Kaleena Berryman at 973-353-3560 or at kaleenab@rutgers.edu, or visit www.abbottleadership.org
Are We There Yet? The Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) invites parents and caregivers of school-aged children to a discussion of the current education environment in NJ and how it impacts Willingboro schoolchildren, with David Sciarra, Executive Director of the Education Law Center, and Lauren Hill, Project Director of ELC's Camden Initiative. Topics include the school funding formula, graduation requirements, children's and parents' rights in special education. Wednesday, December 9, 6-8 p.m., Willingboro Library. Light Refreshments will be served. To register, contact Denise Bouyer at 973-642-8100, ext. 108, or at dbouyer@spannj.org.
Statewide Parent Advocacy Network (SPAN) trainings, "Basic Rights in Special Education" and "Basic Rights in Transition." For December and January calendar of training workshops and to register for workshops on-line, visit http://www.spannj.org/training/.
Our Children/Our Schools Monthly Meetings, Thursday, December 17, 10 a.m. to noon, via conference call; Thursday, January 21, 10 a.m. to noon, at Education Law Center, Newark. For more information, contact info@ourchildrenourschools.org.
Send announcements of upcoming events for the Our Children/Our Schools calendar to: info@ourchildrenourschools.org.

"At its core, a constitutionally adequate education is one that will prepare public school children for a meaningful role in society, enable them to compete effectively in the economy and contribute and participate as citizens and members of their communities."

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