Legislative Update: Sexting, No Child Left Behind Waivers, Charter School Approvals

[Editor's Note: If you're familiar with the school board's public meetings, you're undoubtedly aware of longtime Trustee Sheila Brogan's education legislative update, a collection of what's going on in education law and policy on the national and state level.]

The following update was provided by Sheila Brogan to Patch:

Charter School Legislation

The State Senate Education Committee will hold a public hearing on October 13 on the Charter School reform bills: S2243 and S3005.

S2243 would require local voter approval at the annual school election prior to the establishment of a charter school.

S3005 ensures that students accepted into a charter school reflect the composition of the school community as it relates to income, English as a second language, and disabled students.

Last week four charter schools were approved to open in September of 2012 and some existing charters were given approval to expand. There were no new charter schools approved for Bergen County. Currently there are 80 charter schools operating in NJ and next September, a total of twenty-five more charter schools are scheduled to open.   

Busing

A bill we have been watching, A-3399, allows parents of public school pupils to waive their right to transportation. It was approved by both the Senate and the Assembly and signed by the governor. Currently, a district has to provide a bus seat for an eligible student even if he/she does not ride the bus.

Sexting                

Under a new law signed by Governor Christie last week, teens caught texting sexually explicit photos (sexting) or posting sexually explicit photos online can avoid prosecution. The bill gives first-time teen offenders the chance to complete an education program rather than be prosecuted.  

NCLB Waiver     

The state will seek a waiver from NCLB accountability standards. U.S. Education Department Secretary Arne Duncan released the formal application for states to apply for the waiver. The application is due November 14. States applying must commit to adopting college and career readiness standards, establishing a teacher evaluation system that uses student achievement data as part of the evaluation, and focuses on closing the achievement gap.  

New Jersey Education Commissioner Cerf said that the state is in a good position to be granted the waiver. New Jersey has already adopted the national curriculum standards and is piloting in ten districts a new evaluation system for teachers that will use test data to measure teacher effectiveness.   

Tougher State Tests   

Commissioner Cerf has proposed a tougher high school exam be instituted for the 2012-13 school year.     

In the Courts

Sixteen rural, low-income districts mostly in south Jersey are back in court suing the state for increased funding. These districts first sued the state in 1997 for more education aid based on their low-income status. The funding inequities under the old school funding formula were remedied by the state with the new funding formula, SFRA, enacted in 2008.

Under SFRA money would follow the student and districts with high percentage of low-income students would receive more funding. With the school aid cuts in 2010, these rural districts saw their state aid reduced. Last spring the NJ Supreme Court ordered the state to increase education aid to the Abbot districts. Now these rural districts want the same accommodation saying that their need for more state aid is as great as the need in the Abbot districts.  

Municipal Consolidation

Governor Christie has proposed legislation to ease the transition costs to municipalities willing to consolidate. The legislation if passed would allow the municipalities to spread the costs over 5 years and would require the Department of Community Affairs to pay 20% of the transition costs.  

Federal Funding

If the Senate Appropriations Committee has their way, federal funding for special education and low-income students will be held flat in 2012. Special Education (IDEA) funding would be $11.5 billion and Title I funding for low-income students would be $15.7 billion.