NJEA Launches Priority Schools Initiative

VOL.VOL. 56, 52, NO. NO.4 3 SEPTEMBER NOVEM- 2012 What’s inside NJEA launches Priority Schools Initiative he Class of 2025 entered Left Behind as “in need of improve- Training, planning, collaborating Election 2 kindergarten this year brim- ment.” Schools are labeled in need of ming with enthusiasm. Tens of improvement if they fail to meet state Developed over the course of ? T more than a year, the NJEA Prior- Corfi eld makes second bid for Assembly. thousands of them charged into New profi ciency targets in two consecutive Jersey classrooms. years. ity Schools Initiative was formally Taking a stand 5 “They’ll have smiles on their faces,” Schools that opted to apply for launched at a three-day training and said NEA President Dennis Van Roekel the NJEA Priority Schools Initiative planning program for the teams held Where the candidates stand on public at the Heldrich Hotel in New Bruns- education. at the launch of the NJEA Priority had to demonstrate a commitment Schools Initiative on Aug. 8. “They love to include all stakeholders in the wick that began on Aug 8. going to school. They love learning.” school improvement process: teach- The sessions were led by Steve Professional Development 7 But then his tone took a grave turn. ers, parents, ESP, Barkley, executive Summer Institute targets achievement gaps “Although I don’t know their administrators, the vice-president True reform comes from the of Performance names and I couldn’t possibly predict local association, grass roots. It comes from Learning Systems what’ll to happen to them next month, the school board, the teachers, support staff, and Health and Safety 8 and the author or next week, or even tomorrow, I and the broader administrators in the schools and Be kind to your eyes. “ of Instructional know exactly what will happen to community. NJEA from the community that surrounds that group of 5-year-olds in 2025,” UniServ fi eld reps and supports those schools.” Coaching With the End in Mind. NJEA FAST 10-11 Van Roekel continued. “I can tell you also could recom- – Pamela Garwood, coordinator of within two percentage points how mend a school to With Barkley’s West Windsor Plainsboro and Trenton the NJEA Priority Schools Initiative guidance, the empower parents. many will be incarcerated, how many participate in the will drop out, how many will become application process. teams began the teen parents, and how many will com- “True change requires everyone’s process of developing long-term NJEA Member Benefi t Plan 18 mit suicide.” participation,” said Michael Cohan, goals and benchmarks for the year This issue includes important information “If. the director of NJEA’s Professional ahead. Teams analyzed the skills, about your rights under the NJEA Member “Nothing. Development and Instructional Issues knowledge, student behaviors, staff Benefi t Plan and ERISA. Please read and “Changes.” Division. “This is not about quick behaviors, leadership behaviors, and retain for future reference. tools necessary to equip students to fi xes and cosmetic changes. We’re st Making something change building capacity to help these succeed in the 21 century. Van Roekel’s stark reality check, schools become leaders in providing “What your school does to im- delivered to NJEA’s Priority Schools a 21st-century education.” prove student achievement will school leadership teams, captured the Continued on Page 6 essence of what motivates the teachers, educational support professionals (ESP), parents, principals, superin- tendents, and school board members from the nine school districts and 13 “priority schools” who make up those teams: they want to change the statisti- cal fate of the Class of 2025—and of every class that comes before and If this mailing label is incorrect, please tear off and send corrected label to: NJ 08607-1211 NJEA, PO Box 1211, Trenton, Attn: Membership Processing after them. “Our students are counting on us, and we cannot let them down,” said NJEA Assistant Executive Director Richard Gray. “We will do everything it takes to make the NJEA Priority Schools Initiative a success.” NJEA sent invitations to participate in the program to local association presidents in districts that had multiple On Aug. 8, Priority schools leadership teams participating it the NJEA Priority Schools Initiative met as full teams schools identifi ed under No Child for the fi rst time. CIRCULATION: 195,000 NEW JERSEY EDUCATIONNEW JERSEY EDUCATIONASSOCIATION ASSOCIATION01 Legislative news Election Day is State Board to accept testimony Tuesday, Nov. 6 Seeks input on evaluation Unveiled on Aug. 1, the proposed Contact the State Board rules incorporate segments of the cur- Are you and every eligible member of regulations rent evaluation regulations, assorted Over the next few months, the your household registered to vote? Is your The State Board of Education has changes the NJDOE would like to State Board will accept public registration up to date? Have you consid- begun reviewing anticipated N.J. see, plus some elements required to testimony on the proposed rules. ered voting by mail? Department of Education-proposed implement the new Teacher Effec- Adoption could come as early as Dec. 5. Register to vote changes to teacher and principal tiveness and Accountability for the evaluation regulations. But how the Children of New Jersey (TEACHNJ) NJEA urges leaders and members A voter registration form can be ob- regulations will ultimately look is law. to remind State Board members that tained at njelections.org. Click on “Voter anyone’s guess. The law calls for every school while multiple measures of student Information” in the left-hand sidebar and The NJDOE plans to propose district to implement the new evalu- achievement are useful, research select “Voter Registration Application,” additional revisions in 2013, based ation system by the 2013-14 school shows that student standardized test which is found under “How to Register.” on information from districts piloting year, requiring certain components be scores are not reliable indicators of Because the application needs a valid a new evaluation formula and new addressed through state regulation. teacher effectiveness. signature, you cannot register online. teacher practice evaluation tools. NJEA has concerns about how For more information, talking You’ll need to select the form for your the regulations will points, links to the proposed rules, county, fi ll it out on screen, then print it, use test scores and and how to submit testimony, go to and sign it. The form already includes student growth www.njea.org/issues-and-political- your county clerk’s address and is mail- measures. The action/evaluation. For a list of State ready. If you can print it double-sided, all proposed rules Board members, go to www.nj.gov/ you need to do is fold it, tape it, and mail contain defi nitions education/sboe/boe. it. It doesn’t even need a stamp. that pave the way See the September NJEA Review for more about the new tenure and Vote by mail to tying standardized test scores to evaluation law. Look for “The New Even if you are unable to make it to the determining teacher Tenure Law: What It Means For polls, you can still vote. Simply request an effectiveness. You And What’s Next,” starting on offi cial Vote by Mail ballot. In New Jersey, Page 12. NJEA President Barbara Keshishian speaks with reporters following the Aug. 6 any voter can vote by mail in any election. tenure law signing ceremony. You do not need a reason to vote by mail. To apply for a Vote by Mail ballot, go to njelections.org, click on “Voter Informa- tion” in the left-hand sidebar, and select “Vote by Mail Application” found under Two bills propose expanded ESP rights “How to Register.” You’ll need to select the form for your Two bills enhancing the rights of • the employer provides written notice Just cause arbitration county, print it out, complete it by hand, and educational support professionals to both the majority representative of sign it. Like the voter registration form, the (ESP) have been introduced in the employees in each collective bargain- S-2163 would extend to non- application already includes your county state Senate. S-1191, sponsored by ing unit and to the New Jersey Public teaching employees of local, county clerk’s address and is mail-ready. As long Sen. Diane Allen, R-Burlington, Employment Relations Commission or regional school districts, boards or as you can print it double-sided, all you would put limitations on an employ- at least 90 days prior to any effort by commissions the right to submit to need to do is fold it, tape it, and mail it. But the employer to seek the subcontract- binding arbitration any dispute regard- er’s right to subcontract staff work. ing agreement. for this application, you’ll need a stamp. S-2163, sponsored by Sen. Raymond ing whether there is just cause for a disciplinary action. Your county clerk must receive your ap- Lesniak, D-Union, provides just cause • the employer offers the majority representative the opportunity to meet Disciplinary actions subject to plication by mail no later than seven days protections for nonteaching staff. and discuss the decision to subcon- arbritation would include, but not be prior to the election. You may also apply in NJEA is working closely with tract and negotiate over its impact. limited to, reprimands, the withhold- person at your county clerk’s offi ce until the bills’ sponsors to advance these Under current law, an employer has a ing of a salary increment, termination, 3 p.m. the day before the election. Once measures during the current legislative duty to negotiate a successor agree- non-renewal, an expiration or lapse of completed, all Vote by Mail ballots must be session.

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