Quality Public Education for All New Jersey Students

 

 
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4-6-17 Education in the News

NJ Spotlight--Poll: Use Them or Lose Them — What’s the Best Policy for Sick Day Payouts?

Does it make sense for some public employees to get a big bonus at retirement when they cash in unused sick days and vacation time?

If every county, municipal, and school employee were to retire today, taxpayers would have to shell out $1.9 billion to compensate them for sick days, vacation time, and other leave they did not use while on the job. In some cases, particularly those of police and fire chiefs, these payments can run into the six figures and even reach $500,000.

This tab is in addition to public workers’ annual retirement benefits, and for the most part is far more generous than anything available in the private sector.

http://www.njspotlight.com/stories/17/04/05/poll-use-them-or-lose-them-what-s-the-best-policy-for-sick-day-payouts/

NJ Spotlight| April 6, 2017

 

Star Ledger--N.J. anti-bullying law could inadvertently out kids to parents, advocates say

TRENTON -- New Jersey is considering revising its strict anti-bullying regulations over concerns that students harassed for being lesbian, gay or transgender will be outed to their parents by school officials.  

In a presentation before the state Board of Education on Wednesday, Department of Education officials suggested that schools should no longer automatically tell the parents of bullying victims the full details of the case.  

Instead, the department proposes changing its anti-bullying regulations to require that schools "take into account the circumstances of the incident" when deciding what information to share with parents and how to communicate it. 

http://www.nj.com/education/2017/04/nj_worries_anti-bullying_law_will_out_kids_as_gay.html#incart_river_index

Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com |April 06, 2017 at 8:36 AM

 

Star Ledger--State board OKs up to $3.3M to save troubled education agency

TRENTON -- The state Board of Education has approved up to $3.3 million in emergency funding to keep an education agency operating following its announced shutdown last month.

With that funding comes a vow to investigate why the agency ran into financial problems.

The Educational Information and Resource Center announced it was ceasing operations at the end of March, with officials saying the agency lost more than $3.7 million in the last three years. 

The EIRC is a state-created local education agency formed to serve school districts and municipalities in New Jersey with various services, including training and purchasing.

http://www.nj.com/gloucester-county/index.ssf/2017/04/state_board_oks_33m_for_troubled_education_agency.html#incart_river_index

Matt Gray and Adam Clark | NJ Advance Media for NJ.com |on April 05, 2017 at 12:36 PM, updated April 05, 2017 at 4:44 PM

 

The Record (via Philadelphia Inquirer)--Report: New Jersey teacher attendance at 97 percent

TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - New Jersey's statewide school report card shows the statewide median for faculty attendance in the 2015-16 school years was 97 percent.

An analysis by The Record (https://njersy.co/2nWTX0P ) found teachers and educational support staff missed around one out of every 33 days during the 180-day school year.

The reports do not include approved professional days, personal days, bereavement days, and extended illness in excess of five consecutive work days.

The annual state report card shows how schools are performing in terms of test scores, graduation rates and absenteeism.

http://www.philly.com/philly/education/20170405_ap_857cffb768f246c38e6419a2254d10bd.html

The Associated Press| Updated: April 5, 2017 — 5:57 AM EDT

 

Press of Atlantic City--How using lottery proceeds might solve N.J. pensions problem

TRENTON — New details are emerging on Republican Gov. Chris Christie's proposal to transfer New Jersey's lottery to the state's underfunded pension.

Treasurer Ford Scudder told the Assembly budget committee Wednesday that the lottery's nearly $1 billion in revenues for programs like education and human services would count toward the state's underfunded pension under the plan Christie put forward earlier this year.

http://www.pressofatlanticcity.com/ap/state/how-using-lottery-proceeds-might-solve-n-j-pensions-problem/article_1cc24690-2618-52a9-8749-9cade4d11e8a.html

Associated Press| 15 hrs ago

 

NY Times--It Takes a Suburb: A Town Struggles to Ease Student Stress

Small rocks from the beaches of eastern Massachusetts began appearing at Lexington High School last fall. They were painted in pastels and inscribed with pithy advice: Be happy.… Mistakes are O.K.… Don’t worry, it will be over soon. They had appeared almost by magic, boosting spirits and spreading calm at a public high school known for its sleep-deprived student body.

Crying jags over test scores are common here. Students say getting B’s can be deeply dispiriting, dashing college dreams and profoundly disappointing parents.

https://www.nytimes.com/2017/04/05/education/edlife/overachievers-student-stress-in-high-school-.html?rref=collection%2Fsectioncollection%2Feducation&action=click&contentCollection=education®ion=rank&module=package&version=highlights&contentPlacement=1&pgtype=sectionfront&_r=0

By KYLE SPENCERAPRIL 5, 2017