The article below was reprinted word for word from the njea Association newspaper for May 2011
Governor creates mandate task force
Governor Chris Christie has signed yet another executive order, this one creating the Education Transformation Task Force. The group has been asked to study education regulaltions with an eye toward giving greater flexibility to administrators.
The task force is charged with completing a comprehensive and thorough review of all current administrative regulations that affect public education and providing recommendations to the governor that further the goals of:
- increasing quality of instruction and academic acheivement for students
- improving teaching and educator effectiveness within schools
- improving the saftey and well-being of students
- sensibly eliminating or reforming those regulations that are found to be unnecessary, overly burdensome, or not conducive to an efficient and flexible classroom environment
Although no individuals have been named at press time, the group is supposed to include at least one teacher, a principal, and a superintendent. Among its charges, the Education Transformation Task Force will examine the Quality Single Accountability Continuum regulations known as QSAC. Currently, schools must file reports that deal with more than 300 indicators of a school's performance.
The task force's initial report, with its recommendations to the governor, is to be completed by August 15. At that time, the group will take comments from the public, the N.J. State Board of Education and education stakeholders. Its final report would be due before the end of the calendar year.
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| William A. Walker Sr. He marched with Adam Clayton Powell, Rev. Goodman, Malcolm X and many others, less known and some still alive, in an attempt to INTEGRATE the Englewood Schools. How do you think he would feel knowing that his great granddaughter's high school is segregated? |
I am sitting here wondering what is different about the Education Transformation Task Force. Right now a small group of people are making decisions that affect the larger group. It does not seem from the description that this group would change anything for our children. The tone of it actually suggests that the Chief Administrative Officers will have even more responsibility. We certainly put a lot of confidence in the ability of one man. What makes a good Superintendent? What makes a good principal? Shouldn't the people who have the most power be evaluated by the people they serve, who by the way, also pay their salaries?
That Education Transformation Task Force sounds more than a little
scary to me. Mark your calendars for Aug. 15th. We don't want to miss our chance to comment.
"HOW ARE THE CHILDREN?"
Our educators are no longer asking, "how are the children?" They are asking, "how is business?"
Excellent Educators for NJ.Governor
ReplyDeleteChristie established the Education Effectiveness Task Force through a September 28, 2010 Executive Order. Nine members, with experience in and knowledge of education policy, administration, and teaching, were selected on October 28, 2010.
The Task Force was charged with recommending an educator evaluation system based on measures of effectiveness. According to the Executive Order, its recommendations were to include measures of student achievement (representing at least 50% of the evaluation); demonstrated practices of effective teachers and leaders; and weights for the various components.
To complete its work, the Task Force, with the support of staff from the Department of Education, reviewed the latest research on educator evaluations, examined systems in use both in-state and across the nation, and studied a range of issues related to the development of high-quality evaluation systems, such as observation protocols, growth measures, and special education considerations. The Task Force met 12 times between November 16, 2010 and March 1, 2011.
The NJ Educator Effectiveness Task Force Report
Governor Christie established the Education Effectiveness Task Force through a September 28, 2010 Executive Order. Nine members, with experience in and knowledge of education policy, administration, and teaching, were selected on October 28, 2010.
The Interim Report of the Education Effectiveness Task force may be found here...
http://www.state.nj.us/education/educators/effectiveness.pdf
A total of nine districts will be chosen from those who apply to test the new teacher evaluation system. Each will receive $100,000 of the 1.1 million dollar grant that has been set aside to test the pilot program.
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