2017 NJ Governor's race: on Education
Kim Guadagno:
Merit pay for teachers; school choice for parents
Improving New Jersey's public school system is critical for student success and a brighter economic outlook for future generations. New Jersey is blessed with incredible parents, educators and institutions of learning, but too many students are
graduating high school without the necessary skills to succeed. And despite an improving state economy, too many college graduates are struggling to find jobs after earning a degree, choosing instead to move back in with their parents.
We must not rest on our laurels and instead put all available tools and resources together to improve our education system so our students can graduate with the needed skills to get a job, buy a home and raise a family in New Jersey. This includes:
- Reforming the antiquated school funding formula.
- Expanding vocational education and apprenticeships.
- Advancing merit pay for teachers.
- Making higher education more flexible and affordable.
- Expanding school choice.
Source: 2017 New Jersey gubernatorial campaign website
Feb 3, 2017
Jack Ciattarelli:
Limit aid to overfunded school districts
School Funding Reform to Solve the Property Tax Crisis- Reduce excess aid for the most extremely overfunded school districts like Hoboken by 20% per year over 5 years, with savings re-directed to the underfunded school districts in middle-class
towns across the state.
- Redefine 'Local Fair Share' so no community funds less than 25% of their school operating budget or construction costs through the local property tax levy, phased in over 5 years or 20% per year.
- Reduce state school aid to
districts like Asbury Park whose cost-per-student exceeds 150% of 'adequacy' or whose operating budget exceeds 200% of adequacy.
- Prevent communities like Jersey City and others from abating school taxes on new development with 75% of negotiated
payments-in-lieu-of-taxes (i.e. PILOTS) dedicated to the local school district
- Reform the current state-funded Pre-K system so it's not limited to a handful of districts like Newark, with a co-pay required for families with significant means.
Source: 2017 New Jersey Gubernatorial campaign website Jack4Gov.com
Jan 17, 2017
Joe Rullo:
Stop saddling parents and students with Common Core
Since the start of No Child Left Behind and continued under Race to the Top, NJ parents and students have been saddled with the Common Core Standards. Parents feel like they can't help their children with their homework because it is something they have
never learned before and the children are left floundering in schools with too many children and not enough teachers to explain things to them. The State then decided to force the PARCC (Partnership for Readiness for College and Careers) test on our
children. This has resulted in schools and teachers focusing their teaching efforts, not on learning, but on test results. This is wrong and only hurts our children who deserve a comprehensive learning program not a regimen of tests.
As Governor I will end PARCC testing completely and direct the Department of Education to draw up new, independent education standards that will return NJ to the top of the best educated Students in the Country.
Source: 2017 New Jersey Gubernatorial campaign website Rullo2017.com
Jan 17, 2017
Joe Rullo:
Merge roles of school superintendents and administrators
Superintendents and business administrators need to be reduced drastically. Instead of having one superintendent and business administrator per school district, we need to cut the number to one per county.
By consolidating superintendents & business administrators, we can save $50 million per year by eliminating superintendents alone.
Source: 2017 New Jersey Gubernatorial campaign website Rullo2017.com
Jan 17, 2017
Phil Murphy:
Focus on STEM to make Silicon Valley in New Jersey
Bring back the 'STEM' sector:Murphy said "reigniting" the state's science, technology, engineering and mathematics sector was his main economic focus. He specifically cited Monmouth County as a "potential hotbed," for such activity.
While the county's suburbs were once home to the biggest names--such as the
Bell Labs and Lucent Technologies building in Holmdel--he said the resurgence could come in cities like Asbury Park, "communities where millennials want to live."
"We were Silicon Valley before Silicon Valley was Silicon Valley. There's no reason we can't get that back," he said.
Source: Asbury Park Press on 2017 New Jersey Gubernatorial race
Aug 31, 2016
Phil Murphy:
Reignite NJ science hotbed by focusing on STEM sector
Bring back the 'STEM' sector: Murphy said "reigniting" the state's science, technology, engineering and mathematics sector was his main economic focus. He specifically cited Monmouth County as a "potential hotbed," for such activity.While the
county's suburbs were once home to the biggest names he said the resurgence could come in "communities where millennials want to live. We were Silicon Valley before Silicon Valley was Silicon Valley. There's no reason we can't get that back," he said.
Source: Asbury Park Press on 2017 New Jersey gubernatorial race
Aug 31, 2016
Page last updated: Jul 26, 2019