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Gov-elect Christie blast Democrats for lame-duck actions'      12-27-09 'New Jersey competes for education reform stimulus money' (aka 'Race to the Top' funds)      12-23-09 GSCS: Governor Corzine targets excess school surplus to replace state aid payments starting in Feb '10 - lame duck legislation anticipated      12-15-09 GSCS is working with the Christie Transition Team      12-12 & 13-09 Education Issues in the News      12-11-09 'Gov.-elect Chris Christie's team got its signals crossed on education funding application'      12-9-09 Governor-elect Christie talks more about his thougths for education      12-5-09 'Once powerful teachers union faces tough times with Christie'      12-3 Governor-Elect Chris Christie Announces Key Appointments      12-3-09 'Gov.-elect Christie visits North Brunswick to talk with educators on district challenges'      (12-8-09) GSCS Board of Trustees representatives to meet with Christie 'Red Tape' Group      11-23-09 Governor-elect Christie names Transition Team Subcommittee members      11-13-09 Chrisite's Budget Transition Team Annouced      11-13-09 Education Week on: Gov-elect Christie's Education Agenda; Race to the Top Funds Rules      11-12-09 Governor-elect Christie names his 10 member transition team

ADMINISTRATION'S PLANS CITED FOR ROUND 2 - RACE TO THE TOP GRANT
Click on more here to see breakdown of reforms noted - KEY REFORMS FOR CONTINUAL SYSTEM LEARNING AND IMPROVEMENT

SOME IMPORTANT REFORMS FOR IMPROVED SYSTEM PERFORMANCE

posted on njspotlight.com

NEW JERSEYfS PLAN FOR ROUND 2 OF RACE TO THE TOP

 

KEY REFORMS FOR CONTINUAL SYSTEM LEARNING AND IMPROVEMENT ( njspotlight.com )

 

Academic Standards

To ensure that New Jersey's high school graduates are college and career ready, New Jersey is making its

academic standards ] i.e., the skills and content knowledge it expects students to master ] higher, clearer, more

developmentally age]appropriate and well]sequenced, and more streamlined.

 

Assessments

New Jersey is improving its academic assessment tools and better aligning them with its standards. This will

enable us to better measure which academic standards a student has mastered, and how much a student has

grown in skills and content knowledge from quarter to quarter.

 

Longitudinal Data Systems

The State is developing a longitudinal data system that will enable the State to track each student's

quarterly learning progress and some of its life consequences, and correlate this data with key factors relating to

the educational experience of children.

 

The Evaluation of Educational Impacts

The State will use its improved ability to measure and track the learning of students to more precisely

evaluate the educational impact of diverse factors in the educational experience of students: e.g., the educational

impact of curricula, educational programs, teacher effectiveness and methodologies for developing it, school

design, school effectiveness, and labor policies.

 

Stakeholder Involvement

The State will involve key stakeholders in construction and refinement of its standards, assessments, school

effectiveness, and teacher and school leader evaluation metrics to ensure each best accomplishes its goal.

 

Transparency & Data]Driven Decision]Making

Data regarding the educational impacts of policies and practices will be made readily accessible to the

public. With public support, the State will use its improved ability to evaluate educational impacts to continually

improve the design of its public education system and policies.

 

Incentive Systems & Accountability

The State will sometimes use mandates to facilitate sub]system design or outcome improvements, but it

will more often use incentives. Where policies and practices appear ineffective or counterproductive, alternative

approaches will be pursued to see if they improve educational outcomes. Successful innovations will be extended

throughout the system. Ineffective or counterproductive policies and practices will be ended.

 

A System Marked by Continual Learning and Improvement

New Jersey's public education system will become marked by continual learning and improvement. The

power of ideology, money, special interests and political organizations will yield to the power of good public

information.

 

SOME IMPORTANT REFORMS FOR IMPROVED SYSTEM PERFORMANCE

 

Content Standards

Adopt Common Core standards for English and Mathematics; use New Jerseyfs high standards for other

subject areas.

 

Comprehensive Assessments

Establish a system that includes end]of]year, periodic, and day]to]day formative assessments. Encourage

local flexibility for the day]to]day in]classroom assessments focused on supporting instruction.

 

Data System

Bring our data system into the 21st century, creating efficiencies and providing powerful tools and

resources. Create meaningful efficiencies for our school districts, while developing virtuous learning cycles about

what works and why, at all levels.

 

Recruitment

Research suggests that teaching quality can be strengthened is by opening pathways to the teaching

professional while supporting and monitoring their performance once they start teaching. Expand recruitment and

alternate pathway programs to recruit the best teachers to the state.

 

Teacher Performance Index

Establish the principle that student learning must represent at least 50% of teacher and school leader

evaluations. Convene an evaluation committee of key stakeholders to develop state evaluation frameworks for

teachers and leaders, each of which will include local criteria.

 

Professional Support

Provide professional development, teaching clinics, and on]site coaching along with rich instructional

resources to teachers and leaders.

 

Equity Incentives

Our neediest schools deserve access to our best teachers. Provide bonuses to highly effective teachers

willing to teach in schools and classrooms with a high proportion of students at risk. Provide pension and tenure

gretreat rightsh to teachers who answer the call. Support mutual consent in hiring practices.

 

Reward Learning Outcomes

Create a state bonus pool to reward teachers for student learning outcomes. Distribute 50% directly to

teachers or teacher teams, with the remaining 50% apportioned among school staff and programs. Base the

amount of bonus awards on both student achievement and student growth, with a special emphasis on growth by

our most disadvantaged children.

 

Teacher Certification

Establish a career ladder with gMaster Teacherh and gMaster Principalh certifications to recognize and

empower our statefs highly effective teachers and school leaders who have demonstrated mastery of academic

content and delivery of high quality instruction.

 

Using Evaluation Results

Should Reductions in Force be required, base decisions on evaluation data, not seniority.

 

Tenure

Extend the tenure timeline to five years, and require three years of geffectiveh or better evaluations for a

teacher to be granted tenure.

 

School Performance Index

Establish and publish an index for school performance.

 

Transform Struggling Schools

Support district efforts to turn around or transform our most struggling schools. Close intractable failing

schools to be re]opened by alternate providers.

 

Small]School Innovation

Give districts the option to pilot alternatives to traditional and charter schools through the creation of

board]approved, teacher]led Achievement Academies.

 

Charter Authorizers

Ask the legislature to create new Charter School Authorizers with the authority to authorize new charter

schools, monitor charter contracts, and make non]renewal or closure decisions.

 

Consolidate Services

Rely on our County Executive Offices to take a greater role consolidating shared]service contracts,

improving efficiency and reducing costs.