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New Jersey public education in 2017 will be defined by the influence politicians play on policy during a likely turbulent year ahead.
The election of Donald Trump as president and his selection of Betsy DeVos as Secretary of Education has created concern among public educators as the Secretary Designee has campaigned personally and contributed money to promote charter schools and vouchers. Once confirmed, Ms. DeVos will be in a position to influence what happens on the state level as regulations implementing the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) are finalized within the federal Department of Education. By nature of her position, she will hold the education “bully pulpit” in the new administration, exerting her influence on state policy. It will be interesting to watch her actions as president-elect Trump was elected in part on cutting back on federal power and regulation.
In the state politics arena early analysis has the year ahead billed as a free-for-all wrestling match featuring Governor Christie, the leadership of the Democratic Party, and the candidates seeking to become the next Governor of the State. Governor Christie is pushing his “Fairness Formula” for funding public education while the Democrats have their versions embodied in Assembly and Senate proposals. Meanwhile, the state economy is plagued by pension deficits, a tenth credit downgrade during the Christie administration, shrinking revenues created by tax cuts agreed upon in the Gas Tax legislation, and the increased cost of goods and services including the rising cost for retiree health benefits. With K-12 education nearly one third of the annual state spending, flat funding of school district operations may very well continue, forcing cuts in programs and services for students under a two percent municipal tax levy cap. Speculation by State House insiders suggests that Governor Christie might include school district aid figures in his State budget proposal which reflect his “Fairness Formula,” surely creating turmoil for districts as the anticipated legal challenges to the formula’s constitutionality are mounted.
Governor Christie recently vowed to “politically create mischief” as a ‘lame duck’ Governor, citing his concerns about Last In First Out (LIFO) teacher layoffs, the agrarian school calendar, and the inequity of property taxes supporting education in differing municipalities. Phil Murphy, the leading Democratic candidate for Governor and one of Governor Christie’s harshest critics, laid out many of his thoughts about New Jersey public education in an address at the November NJEA Convention following his acceptance of the NJEA endorsement. Mr. Murphy spoke in support of:
- organized labor and the collective bargaining process;
- a constitutional amendment guaranteeing required pension payments;
- quarterly pension payments;
- the School Funding Reform Act with adjustments;
- the return of state takeover districts to local control; and
- the selection of an educator as NJ Education Commissioner.
He spoke in opposition to:
- vouchers and Chapter 78 pension reforms; and
- PARCC as a high school graduation requirement and component of teacher evaluation.
We must wait to identify the views of other candidates for Governor as they emerge during the months ahead and explore what they might hold for public education through 2021.
Let’s not overlook the importance of the State Board of Education which holds the responsibility and authority to determine the rules governing New Jersey public education. The current board has been viewed by many observers as giving a “rubber stamp” to the Governor’s initiatives. As of this writing however, Governor Christie has placed in nomination the appointment or reappointment of the thirteen state board members. Importantly, the current leadership of the board, President Mark Biedron and Vice President Joseph Fisicaro, have not received the Governor’s nomination, signaling what some see as a result of his dissatisfaction that his agenda, particularly on Charter School regulations and teacher preparation, have not moved quickly to adoption. Inasmuch as the term for a State Board Member is six years, Governor Christie appointees, if ratified by the Senate, will impact New Jersey public education long after the Governor leaves office.
PARCC assessments, educator evaluation, state funding for schools, student graduation requirements, the new federal ESSA legislation, and the rights of transgender students have all been part of the 2016 New Jersey Education news story. These issues will be gaining even greater attention throughout 2017 as the state transitions to the leadership of the new U.S. President and the next New Jersey Governor.
NJASA will advocate for public schools according to our Vision 2020 positions in support of NJASA members, their communities, and students.
“One Vision, Our Voice”
When my peers and I were in high school, we wrote our term papers on typewriters. We learned geography from a globe, and we looked up facts in an encyclopedia. What a difference a few decades make.
Students at the Brandeis School in Louisville, Ky., have probably never heard of a typewriter. Even kindergartners and ESL students do their book reports in the form of podcasts. Other students consult these recordings when choosing their own books.
In Detroit, Mich., eighth graders use software and handheld computers to map out their neighborhoods. They identify hazards and use that information to lobby the city for repairs. For them, not only is the globe coming to life, but it’s also a relevant part of their own lives. Most important, technology allows them to make a real difference.
At the Clara E. Coleman Elementary School in Glen Rock, N.J., fifth graders don’t need encyclopedias to look up facts; they can access the internet. Recently, these students taught senior citizens how to send email and navigate the internet in computer workshops. The intergenerational experience was a lesson for both students and seniors.
Welcome to the new era of 21st-century learning. Technology is changing how teachers teach and students learn. It’s empowering students to explore real-world learning opportunities like the ones described above. Education doesn’t get more powerful than that.
Technology Trends in Schools
Each year, it seems that technology becomes “smarter” and more interactive. While laptops, Chromebooks and iPads still have their place in the classroom, there are emerging technologies with the potential to transform the educational process. The following are some of the future trends to watch.
Electronic Portfolios: Traditionally, portfolios included samples of student work stored in a binder, folder, or box. The digital version allows for a greater breadth and depth of work, which can be used to measure learning goals. Students can further personalize their portfolio with a reflection on their achievements and development of their academic voice.
From Coding to Computational Thinking: Even elementary students can learn to develop computer code. It’s an empowering skill that allows them to program the behind-the-scenes portion of computer software. Computational thinking takes this to the next level. It includes analyzing data and creating steps toward a solution, allowing students to deal with complex and even open-ended problems.
Virtual Reality: Schools are starting to use virtual reality applications made possible by such low-cost tools as Google Cardboard and Google Expeditions. Classes can enjoy immersive experiences such as virtual field trips.
3D Printing: This technology has the potential to allow students to bring engineering designs to life. Its downside is its price, which is still outside the budget for most K-12 districts.
In the nearer future, you’ll continue to see the technology that has been evolving over the past few years. This includes personalized learning, one-to-one computing, blended learning (technology paired with traditional instruction), computer assessment, and online testing. Utilizing these methods in innovative ways—such as the podcasting, mapping, and researching mentioned in the introduction—will help drive education in the 21st century.
Digital Challenges and Opportunities
Yet technology is not without its challenges. Talk to any administrator who had to fund a district’s worth of iPads or a teacher whose computers froze during an assessment, and you’ll understand why not everyone is an enthusiastic proponent. In addition, it can be time-consuming to learn new technologies in order to be able to use them effectively in the classroom. In Technology in Education: An Overview, Education Week reports that “a significant body of research has also made clear that most teachers have been slow to transform the ways they teach, despite the influx of new technology into their classrooms.” In other words, there’s a great potential here for some of us to do more with technology.
We’re all wrestling with the same issues, from getting up to speed on new software and hardware, to the changing role of teachers as educational facilitators, to 1:1 computing and personalized learning. Our task is to teach 21st-century skills to students who will be working in jobs that we can’t even imagine right now. Minimizing technology in their instruction does them a disservice. As John Dewey once said, “If we teach today as we taught yesterday, we rob our children of tomorrow.”
I, too, have been challenged by technology, and I often look for inspiration in other districts. Reading their success stories in Education Week is a start. But hearing teachers present their programs, asking them the pivotal questions that relate to your district, and being able to email them for follow-up are the invaluable takeaways from a technology conference like NJASA’s TECHSPO.
Be Inspired by Educational Innovators
Don’t miss your chance to take your district’s technology program to the next level! Click on the following links for the registration page, information on hotel reservations, and a waiver for overnight lodging. Together, we can conquer the challenges of technology and embrace opportunities so that students will be ready to take on their future.
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When asked why he robbed banks, Willie Sutton is credited with a notorious answer: "Because that's where the money is." So, let’s look at three factors influencing future state budgets.
Factor 1 – Pension Deficits and Proposed Constitutional Amendment
Recent events surrounding state finances have been the source of great controversy. Let’s start with the failed attempt to place a ballot question that would amend the state constitution to require the state to pay toward pensions four times per year, rather than annually. Starting in the 2018 fiscal year, the state would have had to contribute $2.4 billion, then that amount would have been raised to $5.5 billion by 2020. In August, Senate President Steve Sweeney declined to place the question for a needed vote in the Senate stating, "Until we have resolved the Transportation Trust Fund impasse, we can't in good conscience put a constitutional guaranteed pension payment on the ballot."
Factor 2 – Transportation Trust Fund Legislation: A Mix of Increased Gas Tax and Other Tax Cuts
In a move where the timing surprised many, Governor Chris Christie, Senate President Steve Sweeney, and Assembly Speaker Vincent Prieto announced on September 30 a bipartisan agreement for broad-based tax cuts and funding for the Transportation Trust Fund (TTF). A number of legislators broke ranks with their respective parties to oppose the legislation, but their opposition did not overcome the vote of supporters.
The plan was ratified by the Legislature and provides for:
- Sales Tax Cut: On January 1, 2017, the sales tax will go from 7% to 6.875%. The following year on January 1, 2018, the sales tax will go from 6.875% to 6.625%. A .375% decrease in the sales tax is the first statewide tax cut that has been given in New Jersey since 1994.
- Tax Savings for the Working Poor: Increase the Earned Income Tax Credit for the working poor to 35 percent of the federal benefit amount beginning in Tax Year 2016.
- Tax Savings for Retirees: Increase the New Jersey gross income tax exclusion on pension and retirement income over four years to $100,000 for joint filers, $75,000 for individuals and $50,000 for married/filing separately.
- Eliminate the Estate Tax: Phase out the estate tax over the next 15 months, replacing the current $675,000 threshold with a $2 million exclusion after January 1, 2017 and eliminating the estate tax altogether as of January 1, 2018.
- Tax Savings for Veterans: Provide a personal exemption on state income taxes for all New Jersey veterans honorably discharged from active service in the military or the National Guard.
While, at first glance, the revenue raised will address New Jersey’s transit infrastructure for the next eight years, the deal received a rating of “credit negative” from Moody’s Investment Service. Moody’s noted that the Office of Legislative Services puts the tax cuts in the bill at $1 billion by Fiscal Year 2019 and $1.3 billion in Fiscal Year 2020. The Moody’s report reported that among the state’s biggest budget challenges is the rapid growth of costs associated with the state’s pension and benefit system, which is currently underfunded by some $40 billion. Based on the state’s projections, pension contributions will increase annually by an average of $711 million through Fiscal Year 2023, approximately 1.9 percent of revenues, Moody’s said. The report estimates that “the state’s revenues will have to increase approximately 4 percent annually to balance pension and other spending growth. Assuming the state takes no other actions to balance the net loss of $1 billion, revenues would have to grow 5 percent annually to balance pension and other spending growth. This growth target will be particularly challenging given the state’s below-average revenue growth of 3 percent annually since the recession.”
Factor 3 – Revocation of Pennsylvania/New Jersey Reciprocal Income Tax Agreement
Last month, Governor Christie ended, effective January 1, the Pennsylvania/New Jersey Reciprocal Income Tax Agreement that has been in place for nearly 40 years. As a result, those who work in South Jersey and commute from Pennsylvania, or work in Pennsylvania and commute from New Jersey, will pay higher wage taxes in 2017.
South Jersey employers including Subaru, Campbell Soup Co., and Destination Maternity are outraged. New Jersey-based companies with employees who live in Philadelphia and the surrounding Pennsylvania suburbs will be at a huge disadvantage, according to Kathy Davis, president of the Chamber of Commerce of South Jersey.
Nearly 250,000 workers in both states will file income-tax returns in both states. About 125,000 Pennsylvania residents commute to New Jersey, and 125,000 make the reverse trip, according to Census Bureau estimates.
Critics of the Governor’s planned action note that this will dampen business prospects for the state, further affecting revenues negatively in the long run.
WHY DOES THIS MATTER?
Back to Willie Sutton — Education accounted for 31.3 percent of state expenditures in fiscal year 2015. So where might the current and future governors go when faced with budget shortfalls? The memory of Governor Christie in 2010 ordering the freeze of $475 million in school aid payments and requiring districts instead to use excess surplus funds still lingers. Christie said the Executive Orderwas necessary to help plug a budget deficit. So, just like Willie Sutton, he went to where the greatest pool of money is in the state budget – state aid for education. What George Santayana wrote (in The Life of Reason, 1905) should ring true as the Governor and legislators wrestle with the next budget: “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.”
Oh, and by the way, have you heard the Governor speak about the "Fairness Formula," which would provide $6,599 per student for each district, a proposal he said would significantly reduce aid to urban districts while lowering property taxes in many suburban towns? The Governor promised to “make mischief” during his last year in office when he spoke about the funding proposal.
NJASA's Vision 2020 plan acknowledges the need for predictable and sufficient funding to ensure world-class performance. Let’s hope that the factors noted here and the Governor's mischief don’t wreak havoc in school funding and result in less opportunity for New Jersey Public School students during the years ahead.
When I fly, I always look forward to the pilot’s announcement, “Please return to your seats and secure your seat belts as we begin to descend.” What I do not enjoy hearing is, “The control tower informs us that we are in a holding position and unable to land.” Unfortunately on my most recent flight, the plane’s landing was delayed because of a holding situation.
I know you are wondering what a plane’s holding position has to do with my Executive View article. Well it’s pretty simple.
This whole concept of a plane’s holding position is exactly the same as the holding position the State of New Jersey is experiencing.
Let’s look at the major issues on hold in New Jersey.
Funding
The Fiscal 2016-2017 budget signed into law provided minimal additional funding for public school systems. The School Funding Reform Act provisions were underfunded by more than $1 Billion.
School district financial support required by the School Funding Reform Act passed in 2008 has never been fully provided and has been woefully underfunded in the ensuing years’ state budgets since its enactment.
Instead of listening to the "Battle of the Bands" at the local high school, we are experiencing the battle of school funding plans between the Governor and the Senate President. NJASA supports the analysis of the impact of state funding for school systems and their communities with expectations that a more equitable system can be devised and that full financial support required by the school funding law can ultimately be achieved for New Jersey communities and their students.
The Transportation Trust Fund, established to finance the cost of “planning, acquisition, engineering, construction, reconstruction, repair, resurfacing, and rehabilitation of the State’s transportation system” is on hold with no closure in sight.
This lack of action is causing several ripple effects from restrictions on the state budget, to no movement for advancing payments to the pension system, and to the redesign of health care costs.
Public pension funds are in a precarious state due to underfunding by many Governors over the decades. It has been easy for both political parties to continually kick the pension payment down the road. However, our elected leaders simply cannot apply the same approach to health benefits.
We have all witnessed New Jersey’s lagging economy, the disappearance of surplus monies from districts, the continual reliance on having parents/guardians pay more for extra services within the districts, and the growth of education foundations.
Student Performance Standards/Assessments/High School Graduation Requirements
For the good of the cause, we can all agree that assessment is an integral component of the teaching and learning process. It takes many forms beginning with astute teachers monitoring the daily performance of their students in class and raising to “high stakes” assessment by the states. The No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation has been replaced by the Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA) and states and districts await implementing regulations from the federal Department of Education. While well-intended, NCLB’s "one-size-fits-all" approach was unrealistic at best and punitive at worst. It took years of significant work in the educational community and within Congress, but in the last weeks of 2015, President Obama signed into law ESSA and shifted greater authority back to the states for determining accountability for student performance and teacher effectiveness.
NJASA endorses high standards and assessments that measure how students are achieving them and supports the effort to use 21st Century learning techniques in assessing student understanding. We, as education practitioners, advocate that every New Jersey student is truly ready for a career or post-secondary education following graduation.
The New Jersey State Board of Education has authorized the requirement that high school students demonstrate proficiency on PARCC assessments in Algebra I and 10th grade English language arts beginning with the class of 2021. The Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) provides valuable data that has been unavailable through prior state student assessment programs and student score reports are now more informative for both parents and educators. Much discussion and debate lies ahead to determine if these are the most appropriate requirements or if the state will take a different path in determining what “college and career” ready truly means for New Jersey students. We look forward to the conversation about defining graduation requirements that are more meaningful to students as they determine their personal paths forward after high school.
The next 15 months will prove to be pivotal times for all New Jersey residents. There is no crystal ball to predict what policy is coming next from our elected officials and how their decisions will affect New Jersey public education and local school districts. The tenets and goals of the NJASA Vision 2020 plan will guide our discussion and the efforts of our organization and members as we carefully examine proposals to shape public education for New Jersey students.
State policies and political preferences will be navigating some of the fallout from the 2016 Presidential election, as well as, the 2017 New Jersey Gubernatorial election. Again, we are on hold!
Collectively, all these issues have the potential to enhance, change, and/or erode the course and funding of education in New Jersey. Again, we are on hold with no closure in sight until maybe January 2018.
There is one thing that is not on hold - school bells. They are ringing again!
Together, NJASA, school leaders, parents and involved stakeholders will continue to move forward in spite of these challenges and others - always with the goal of having the best interest of our students.
Learn Best Practices from 33 Districts
This year’s theme, “Maximizing Leadership Effectiveness with One Vision—One Voice,” underscores Vision 2020, our plan to ensure that New Jersey’s public schools consistently rank among the best public education systems in the country. Working toward best practices in the year 2020 in New Jersey’s public schools, we’re excited to hear from 33 school districts representing the entire state from Teaneck to Ocean City, and everywhere in between.
Topics range from technology to school law to teacher supervision to data-driven success. Here are just some examples of the sessions that will be offered.
- An Insider’s Guide on Strategies Used by Attorneys and Advocates Against Schools
- Road Map for Creating a Multi-Tiered After-School Program for Struggling Learners
- Public Relations for Districts in the Digital Age
- Using Technology to Implement Automated Lockdowns
- Going Google in a 1:1 Environment
- Data Breaches and the Pitfalls of Improperly Handling Personal Information
- Analyzing PARCC Results to Inform Instruction – English Language Arts
- HIB Challenges and Solutions
For the full list, click here.
Be Inspired by Educational Pioneers
In addition to the sessions, we’ll hear from three inspiring keynote speakers:
Ari Ne’eman is the president and co-founder of the Autistic Self Advocacy Network, an advocacy organization run by and for autistic adults seeking to increase the representation of autistic people across society. He was just 18 when he co-founded the organization, and just 22 when he was appointed by President Obama to the National Council on Disability, a federal agency charged with advising Congress and the President on disability policy issues. As a student in New Jersey’s schools, Ne’eman struggled with how special needs students were rarely challenged and is working to pave the way for increased opportunities for people with disabilities.
Dr. Pedro Noguera is the Distinguished Professor of Education at the Graduate School of Education and Information Sciences at UCLA. He is a sociologist whose research focuses on ways in which schools are influenced by social and economic conditions. A regular commentator on CNN, MSNBC, National Public Radio, Dr. Noguera brings a wealth of experience as a researcher, a former classroom teacher, a former school board member and a parent of five children.
Dr. Ernest Morrell is the Macy Professor of English Education and Director of the Institute for Urban and Minority Education (IUME) at Teachers College, Columbia University. Dr. Morell was an award-winning English teacher and coach in Northern California. He now works with teachers and schools across the country to infuse social and emotional learning, digital technologies, project-based learning, and multicultural literature into standards-based literacy curricula and after-school programs.
Celebrate the Success of Leading Educators
Finally, we’ll be celebrating the successes of our peers, with award presentations honoring Regional Superintendents of the Year, the Superintendent of the Year, Distinguished Service, NJASA President and the Anti-Defamation League.
Don’t miss your chance to connect with your peers and resources all under one roof. Challenge your assumptions about education, find new solutions, and bring them back to help your team make a difference for New Jersey public school students. An extensive exhibit hall will showcase equipment, supplies and services.
Caesars Atlantic City is the official host hotel and overnight lodging will be covered by your district if you travel more than 50 miles to the conference. Register no later than Monday, May 2, to avoid a late charge or walk-in fee. We look forward to seeing you there!
Stay tuned to the New Jersey Association of School Administrators website at www.njasa.net, this blog and our Facebook page for continuing up-to-date information on these critical issues and our professional programs. Our goal is to help New Jersey students get the best possible education and keep administrative costs down. https://www.njasa.net//site/Default.aspx?PageID=1489
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