- NJASA
- 2012
What to Expect This School Year
Posted by Dr. Rich Bozza on 8/28/2012
With each school year comes new challenges, and 2012-13 is no exception. Changes in tenure, teacher and student assessment and even virtual charter schools are on the agenda. New Jersey’s Chief Education Officers are taking a close look at the following key issues. For a video summary of these items, click here.
Tenure: Still Work to Be Done
Governor Christie has signed a new tenure law that removes ineffective teachers even if they have tenure. The law is called “Teacher Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of New Jersey” or “TEACH NJ.” Under TEACH NJ, teachers are given a rating ranging from highly effective to ineffective. If a teacher receives a partially effective rating, or an ineffective one for two years, they are automatically subject to tenure proceedings and can ultimately lose their tenure.
The law also dictates other changes to tenure. A more comprehensive mentoring program has been established during a teacher’s first year of employment, and they now need to work four years instead of three in order to be eligible for tenure. There are no changes to teacher seniority however. When it comes to teacher layoffs, it’s still going to be last in—first out.
Educational columnist John Mooney does a good job summarizing the details of the new tenure bill. There is clearly still work to be done.
Take the Time for Authentic Teacher Evaluation
Part of the tenure piece will be accurately evaluating New Jersey’s teachers. Yet, the teacher evaluation system is still in the pilot phase. The state plans to have an evaluation system ready statewide by the 2013-2014 school year.
We think the new evaluation system will influence decisions about school personnel policies, professional development, promotions, compensation, merit-based bonuses, and reductions in force. This could put job security at risk, and the teaching profession could lose its best educators.
Our message to the task force: take your time to create an authentic assessment. Fast track implementation simply doesn’t work.
No Template for Virtual Charter Schools
The first full-time virtual charter schools are being considered in New Jersey. But they’re not opening this September. The state delayed the opening a year, asking them to take that time to plan.
We think that’s a wise idea. Existing laws are not equipped to address virtual charter schools, schools that teach classes via a student’s home computer. How will these schools be funded? Monitored? How will compulsory attendance be handled? There are substantial reasons to take a cautious approach on virtual charter schools.
A New Approach to Student Assessment
Schools will be implementing the Common Core State Standards, adopted by 45 states and the District of Columbia. The new standards will require more frequent and comprehensive testing, including computer-directed performance-based tasks.
The standards are designed to provide a clear and consistent framework to prepare students for college and the workforce. No state will lower its standards to comply with the national norm but rather will build upon the most advanced current thinking.
The New Jersey Department of Education is already working with neighboring states to develop assessments in language arts, mathematics, biology, chemistry and physics. You’ll see some of these tests in New Jersey schools this year. The full launch is scheduled for 2014.
Going Forward
New Jersey’s schools are on the right track. Chief Education Officers are poised to tackle these issues, and others, to move education forward through the most challenging academic and economic times and into the 21st century.
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