[Video below.] New Jersey’s largest teachers union said today a draft version of an application for Race to the Top funding included key budget information – numbers left off a final version that helped sink the state’s chances.The earlier application – agreed to May 27 – included budget information for 2008 and 2009 that was left off the final application for federal education aid, according to a copy provided by the New Jersey Education Association. The May 27 version provides more insight into how the state put together the unsuccessful application.
Reviewers grading the application faulted the state for failing to provide the correct information on that answer and docked the state nearly 5 points. The state lost by 3 points.
Overall, New Jersey scored 437.8 out of a possible 500 points, losing points throughout the application for more substantive issues, such as failing to implement data programs to track student achievement, and a lack of cooperation with local school districts and unions. Though it didn’t make the final cut, New Jersey scored higher this time than in the first round earlier this year.
Maria Comella, a spokeswoman for Gov. Chris Christie, said the changed answer was a “clerical error” and the “substantive edits made regarding teacher evaluation, merit pay” and layoffs were in other sections.
The initial answer, according to the document provided by the NJEA, was:
A: (i) EDUCATION SPENDING AS A PERCENTAGE OF STATE SPENDING
New Jersey increased its state percentage of spending on education from 36.9% in 2008 to 39.6% in 2009. In 2010, despite huge budget shortfalls, the Governor increased the education budget by 2.4%. ($238 million.) The New Jersey legislature remains committed to funding education even though almost every other area of state spending has been cut. Education appropriations for the 2011 budget show an overall decrease of 7.7% because of the impact of the one-time ARRA funds used to support the state. Despite severe fiscal challenges, the leadership in the state of New Jersey remains committed to education and has demonstrated it in their funding of the 2011 proposed budget.
That was an answer on a version of the application that included a compromise between the union and state Education Commissioner Bret Schundler on merit pay, tenure, evaluations and seniority. After Christie scrapped the agreement, calling it “unacceptable,” the Department of Education worked over Memorial Day weekend to re-vamp the application.
The question and answer, as submitted:
Q: The extent to which- (i) The percentage of the total revenues available to the State (as defined in this notice) that were used to support elementary, secondary, and public higher education for FY 2009 was greater than or equal to the percentage of the total revenues available to the State (as defined in this notice) that were used to support elementary, secondary, and public higher education for FY 2008
A: (i) EDUCATION SPENDING AS A PERCENTAGE OF STATE SPENDING
In fiscal year 2011, despite huge budget strains, the Governor is proposing an increase in state revenue-based support for education by 2.2% ($238 million). As proposed, preschool-12 education spending as a percentage of the state budget will be 35.4%. Federal ARRA funding will not be available to school districts in FY 2011, but the Governor and the executive team remain committed to funding education even as state revenue-based support for most other areas of state spending has been cut. This demonstrates that, despite severe fiscal challenges, the leadership in the state of New Jersey remains committed to education.
Comella said the union had “no role whatsoever in the development” of the section with the error “at any point in time.” She added the content of the section was not “contingent upon negotiations.”
Click below for a video of Bret Schundler discussing his firing:
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{NJ.com/Matzav.com Newscenter}
