State of New Jersey secondary Archives: on Education
Bob Hugin:
Supports expanded charter schools
Q: Help parents send children to private schools with public money?Robert Hugin (R):
No stand found, but supports expanded charter schools.
Robert Menendez (D): No. They drain money from public schools.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Jersey Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Bonnie Watson Coleman:
Strong public school system is critical
Bonnie Watson Coleman is committed to providing every child with the opportunity to receive a quality education. Our children should love learning. To create a safe and engaging environment that encourages critical thinking, schools and families need
support. Coleman is a strong advocate for our public school system. She believes in the guarantee of equal education to all children and the diversity that is promoted by public schools. Coleman believes that a strong public school system is critical to
the U.S. maintaining its high standard of education. Coleman recognizes that while charter schools may serve specific niches and limited purposes, they should not be a replacement for the public school system.Through her tenure as the Assembly
Majority Leader, Coleman ensured that New Jersey not only invested in our public schools, but that appropriations were thoroughly matched with higher education grants for financial assistance with public colleges, universities, and vocational schools.
Source: 2014 New Jersey House campaign website BonnieForCongress.com
Oct 10, 2014
Bonnie Watson Coleman:
Supports voluntary prayer in public schools
Coleman indicates support of the following principles regarding education. - Support national standards and testing of public school students.
- Increase state funds for school capital improvements (e.g. buildings and infrastructure).
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Increase state funds for hiring additional teachers.
- Support teacher testing and reward with merit pay.
- Endorse voluntary prayer in public schools.
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Require public schools to administer high school exit exams.
- Provide state funding to increase teacher salaries.
- Increase funding for Head Start programs.
- Provide state funding for tax incentives and financial aid to help
make college more affordable.
- Support sexual education programs that include information on abstinence, contraceptives, and HIV/STD prevention methods.
Source: New Jersey 2005-2006 Gubernatorial Political Courage Test
Nov 1, 2005
Chris Christie:
Tenure reform for failing teachers; merit pay for good ones
We have also done much in the past five years to reform our education system. For the first time in 100 years, we came together to reform tenure, so that failing teachers can be removed from the classroom.For the first time, we brought the concept of
performance-based pay to schools in our largest city, Newark--so that we can pay the best teachers more.
We have expanded charter schools. And together we have enacted urban hope legislation to create renaissance schools in our highest risk districts.
Source: State of the State address to 2015 New Jersey Legislature
Jan 13, 2015
Chris Christie:
Choice of schools to meet child's needs
For four years in a row, we've provided a record amount in aid to our public schools--over $11.9 billion in the current fiscal year. But more school reform is needed. And a great first step would be to pass the opportunity scholarship act, to give
parents a choice of a school that meets their child's needs.Let's give families an alternative to chronically failing neighborhood schools. Let's keep driving for better outcomes. Let's give parents and students more choice.
Source: State of the State address to 2015 New Jersey Legislature
Jan 13, 2015
Chris Christie:
Program for at-risk youths to get them into college
In partnership with our community colleges, we launched the College Readiness Now Program to help at-risk students graduate from high school and to get prepared to attend college. 19 community colleges partnered with more than
60 high schools across the state, serving 900 high school students from disadvantaged backgrounds. 97% of the students completing the program in Atlantic and Cape May Counties enrolled in Atlantic Cape Community College as freshmen.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to New Jersey legislature
Jan 12, 2016
Chris Christie:
Further de-regulate charter schools
Charter schools have succeeded in spite of our regulatory environment--not because of it. Instead of giving charter schools the autonomy they need to deliver great education outcomes, we're regulating them using the same regulations
that apply to traditional public schools. It's not good for innovation or for attracting more innovative charter school operators to our state. Today, I'm announcing that my administration will aggressively prioritize regulatory relief for these schools.
Source: 2016 State of the State speech to New Jersey legislature
Jan 12, 2016
Cory Booker:
Ensure that college tuition is not a long-term burden
The very fact that Congress has been paralyzed in the face of student loan rates that are set to double is only the latest piece of evidence that we are not putting education first. The situation is absolutely unacceptable: Tuition rates are climbing
and student loan debt has topped over a trillion dollars nationally. More than 100,000 low-income students are denied the ability to go to college every year, and a typical low-income family dedicates the equivalent of more than 70 percent of its annual
income to send a child to college for a year. Here in New Jersey, as in many states, there has been a massive spike in college enrollment paired with steep cuts in state support, putting tremendous pressure on tuition.
As your Senator, I will support access to the education our kids need to succeed by doing all I can to ensure paying for that education is not a barrier or long-term burden.
Source: 2013-2014 New Jersey Senate campaign web CoryBooker.com
Nov 3, 2013
Cory Booker:
Pre-school for 3-year-olds; more teacher empowerment
We have a lot to be proud of in Newark, including:- More kids in preschool: 61 percent more 3 and 4 year olds enrolled in public preschool;
- Tackling illiteracy: Raised philanthropy to provide 120,000 books for nearly 12,000 low-income students
at 20 Newark public schools to help build home libraries;
- Options: Attracted new public school models, leading to families having more quality public education choices;
- Healthier families: Newark doubled the number of schools served by
school-based health centers.
- Places to play: Expanded acres of school athletic fields and playgrounds;
- Empowering teachers: Establishment of a "Teacher Innovation Fund" that pays for ideas teachers have to improve student outcomes;
- Rewarding
good teachers: Facilitated a groundbreaking teacher's union contract that made the district the first in New Jersey to offer performance bonuses to effective teachers, and holding accountable ineffective teachers who are failing our kids.
Source: 2013-2014 New Jersey Senate campaign web CoryBooker.com
Nov 3, 2013
Cory Booker:
Fundamental right to high quality public education
I believe that access to a high quality public education is a fundamental American right and that fully realizing the genius of our children is vital to the health of our economy and a strong and secure future for our country. Knowing this,
I pulled together stakeholders from across our city and nation to develop strategies and take action for our kids. I then went out and raised over $200 million to launch initiatives that would help our public schools meet their enormous obligations.
Source: 2013-2014 New Jersey Senate campaign web CoryBooker.com
Nov 3, 2013
Cory Booker:
Newark Workshops got $1.3M in Pell Grants
We must do more to make college more affordable for anyone who is seeking to advance their education. Ensuring more ready access to college is not only about providing all Americans with an opportunity to succeed, but is also an investment in our economy
As Mayor, I established a program at Newark's Financial Empowerment Center that reached more than 1,000 college-bound Newarkers through financial aid workshops. It has helped Newark students receive approximately $1.3 million in Pell Grant awards.
Source: 2013-2014 New Jersey Senate campaign web CoryBooker.com
Nov 3, 2013
Hirsh Singh:
Introduce meaningful school choice reform
Despite one of the highest spending levels per-student in the nation, education for many in New Jersey leaves much to be desired. I will work hard to ensure students across New Jersey have access to better education.-
Introduce meaningful school choice reform.
- Reform the school funding formula to close the disparity in funding between school districts.
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Cut wasteful spending to ensure funding is going to students not administrators or bureaucrats.
- Introduce school vouchers programs to give parents more options when choosing how their kids will be educated.
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Increase the number of trade schools.
- Consolidate our 586 School Districts to 21 separate school districts that align with county lines.
Source: Ballotpedia.org Connection: 2020 New Jersey Senate race
Nov 1, 2017
Hirsh Singh:
Promote school choice polices at state & local levels
By fighting for strong schools and ending excessive government interference, we can give every child an equal chance at achieving the American Dream.
That means decentralizing educational regulation, with the goal of eliminating federal influence entirely. We must promote school-choice policies at the state and local levels.
Source: 2020 New Jersey Senate website HirshSingh.com
Feb 5, 2020
Hirsh Singh:
Empower public, private, home school environments
I am committed to creating a culture of education in New Jersey where every student is celebrated; a culture where every teacher is given the freedom to help their students achieve greatness. This means working to empower every parent, student and
teacher with the necessary resources to achieve this greatness, regardless of whether they are in a public, private or home school environment. What's important isn't government bureaucracy; it's the educational success of the child.
Source: 2020 New Jersey Senate campaign website HirshSingh.com
Jun 11, 2020
Hirsh Singh:
School violence due to political indoctrination, propaganda
Every child deserves an educational environment that's free of political indoctrination. Instead, they're bombarded with propaganda that causes emotional distress. The historic rise in youth violence is a direct result of the Democrat Party teaching
society that our babies have no value; that women aren't to be respected; that parents are not to be honored; that authority is to be rebelled against. We are reaping today what Democrats have sown for decades. Shouldn't we hold them accountable?
Source: 2020 New Jersey Senate campaign website HirshSingh.com
Jun 11, 2020
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
Jack Ciattarelli:
Re-balance over-funded vs/ under-funded school districts
The assemblyman from Somerset County vows to rebalance statewide school funding. The current cutting of the money pie is "blatantly unfair, terribly flawed,'' he says. Ciattarelli says he'll push to reduce excess aid in the most overfunded
school districts by 20 percent per year over 5 years, with the savings re-directed to the most severely underfunded school districts.
Source: Bergen Record on 2021 New Jersey Gubernatorial race
Mar 20, 2017
Jack Ciattarelli:
Don't mandate college vaccination until others vaccinated
[On COVID vaccinations]: "Governor Murphy should discourage our public and private colleges and universities from mandating vaccinations for all students,"
he continued. "At the very least, he should do so until such time as the state can guarantee that every single New Jerseyan in higher-risk categories has immediate access to a vaccine should they choose to get one."
Source: Middletown Patch on 2021 New Jersey Gubernatorial race
Feb 1, 2021
Jack Ciattarelli:
We're going to roll back the LGBTQ curriculum; goes too far
Ciattarelli is vowing to roll back school curricula that centers LGTBQ inclusivity, falsely claiming that "sexual orientation" is being taught to kindergarteners and sixth graders are learning "sodomy." "You won't have to deal with it when
I'm governor, but we're not teaching gender ID and sexual orientation to kindergarteners. We're not teaching sodomy in sixth grade. And we're going to roll back the LGBTQ curriculum. It goes too far."
Source: Gothamist.com on 2021 New Jersey Gubernatorial race
Jack Ciattarelli:
Reconfigure state school funding to where it's needed today
Wants to make changes to the state's school funding formula. He calls for "reweighing cost-per-student spending targets ...
so the distribution aligns with need today, not the 1980s." He also wants to reduce excess aid to overfunded schools districts and redistribute the money to underfunded schools.
Source: Newark Star Ledger on 2021 New Jersey Gubernatorial race
May 15, 2019
Jeff Bell:
End federal involvement in education
Question topic: The federal government should establish nationwide standards (such as Common Core) for high-school graduation.Bell: Strongly Disagree.
Question topic: Briefly list political or legislative issues of most concern to you.
Bell: Ending the federal government's involvement in education, starting with Common Core
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 New Jersey Senate race
Sep 30, 2014
Jim McGreevey:
Supports back-to-basics and tougher standards
- Lead New Jersey so that our schools better prepare our children for the future by helping students and teachers meet tougher standards.
- Put a greater emphasis on character education and teaching the basics.
- Think more creatively about how to best utilize our schools by creating more after- school programs so children have alternatives to the streets or coming home to an empty house.
Source: Workprint for New Jersey
Jun 25, 2001
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
Josh Gottheimer:
Emphasize STEM skills to bridge huge skills gap
At Microsoft, I saw first-hand how few engineers our country produces; we simply aren't graduating enough of them. And, given our immigration policies, many of the engineers who graduate from our colleges can't stay here. The result is a huge skills gap.
I support integrating education technology in the classroom and programs that greatly emphasize Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM), skills that are increasingly necessary for children who will enter the workforce in the coming decades.
Providing our children with a STEM education will make the district an attractive location for companies from the technology industry, and position our children to compete for the high paying jobs of the future. Studies have shown that over
time each high-tech job creates about five jobs outside of tech (two professional and three nonprofessional). It is critical that we have a representative in Washington who understands the needs of an increasingly important industry.
Source: 2016 New Jersey House campaign website josh4congress.com
Nov 8, 2016
Josh Gottheimer:
Take steps to make college more affordable
Beyond K-12, we must take steps to make college more affordable. The costs of college tuition has skyrocketed 80 percent in the last decade. Seven in ten college graduates have an average debt of more than $35,000,
and only 59 percent of students seeking a bachelor's degree actually finish. We need to incentivize college completion, for both students and colleges, better match college training with employer needs, and address the runaway costs.
Source: 2016 New Jersey House campaign website josh4congress.com
Nov 8, 2016
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
Murray Sabrin:
Oppose nationwide Common Core standards
Question topic: The federal government should establish nationwide standards (such as Common Core) for high-school graduation.
Sabrin: Strongly Disagree
Source: Faith2Action iVoterGuide on 2014 New Jersey Senate race
Jul 2, 2014
Phil Murphy:
Tackle our higher education student debt problem head on
One of New Jersey's great assets is its higher education system. Unfortunately, Governor Christie has chronically underinvested in our colleges and universities. As a result, families of students at our public colleges now bear some of the highest costs
in the country--which has produced extraordinarily high levels of student debt. 68 percent of NJ college graduates in 2014 had student debt, and NJ residents carry student debt totaling more than $30 billion.
We must tackle our higher education problem head on, by:- Increasing state aid to institutions of higher education;
- Providing loan forgiveness to STEM graduates working in STEM jobs in the state;
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Helping New Jerseyans stuck with student loans at above-market rates by offering state-based refinancing at lower rates; and
- Creating incentives for private sector employers to provide student loan relief as a core employee benefit.
Source: 2017 New Jersey Gubernatorial website, Murphy4NJ.com
Sep 19, 2016
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
Phil Murphy:
Invest in pre-K & free community college
We invested hundreds of millions of dollars in our schools and pre-K. Now, 4,000 more three- and four-year-olds are attending a high-quality pre-K program. And, starting this semester, 13,000 worthy students are attending community college tuition-free.
We were able to make these investments by asking those with incomes over $5 million to pay a little more, and by ensuring a more equitable distribution of school aid.
Source: 2019 State of the State address to New Jersey legislature
Jan 15, 2019
Phil Murphy:
Tuition-free community college for eligible students
We're putting a college education back within reach. We've opened the doors to a tuition-free community college education to thousands of eligible students, and put in place safeguards
to combat college debt. And, for those who want the opportunity, we've reinvested in workforce development and apprenticeships like never before.
Source: 2020 New Jersey State of the State address
Jan 14, 2020
Rik Mehta:
Backs school choice for those locked in failing schools
Rik backs school choice for parents and children locked in failing schools, and will free local districts to make curriculum decisions, not federal bureaucrats. A student should never have their future determined by their zip code and the failing
schools that serve it. High dropout rates, low test scores, and rampant absenteeism are sadly typical of many failing schools. All too often, those schools are in minority neighborhoods. This is unfair and immoral.
Source: 2020 New Jersey Senate campaign website RikForNJ.com
Mar 18, 2020
Robert Menendez:
Vouchers drain money from public schools
Q: Help parents send children to private schools with public money?Robert Hugin (R):
No stand found, but supports expanded charter schools.
Robert Menendez (D): No. They drain money from public schools.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Jersey Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Robert Menendez:
Supports making 2 years of community college free
Q: Refinance student loans at lower rates by raising high-earner taxes (Elizabeth Warren bill)? Increase federal student financial aid, like Pell grants?Robert Hugin (R): No stand found.
Robert Menendez (D): Yes. Supports Warren proposal. Backed America's College Promise Act making 2 years of community college free.
Source: 2018 CampusElect.org Issue Guide on New Jersey Senate race
Oct 9, 2018
Seth Kaper-Dale:
Reform districting, moratorium on charter schools
Some of our regions function as "separate but equal" districts. Redistricting, with the use of creative models of magnet schools, would spread school funding in more appropriate ways, and would allow students to move freely within a
larger district for focused educational opportunities. We would put a moratorium on the building of new Charter Schools that are not run by democratically elected school boards or held to the same standards as public schools.
Source: 2018 New Jersey Governor website KaperDaleForGovernor.com
Aug 8, 2017
Seth Kaper-Dale:
Cut college tuition, lower interest rates on loans
We would increase state support for programs like the Education Opportunities Fund, that helps students with high economic need. Also, the proposed state-run public bank would be set up to make very-low-interest loans to students.
Lastly, NJ Medicare for All would save universities millions of dollars from their budget. It would be the goal of a Kaper-Dale administration to see the savings on health care go directly into the reduction of tuition across the board.
Source: 2018 New Jersey Governor website KaperDaleForGovernor.com
Aug 8, 2017
Doug Steinhardt:
Leave politics out of the schoolhouse
The left's radical political agenda is seeping into our schools and families with medical mandates, CRT, and woke gender curriculums. Doug will fight to give parents choices in how they raise their children, and a voice in what their children are
taught, how, and by whom. Count on him to advocate for getting back to the basics of reading, writing, and arithmetic, STEM programs that prepare our kids for the future. Doug wants to leave politics for the statehouse and out of the schoolhouse.
Source: 2021 New Jersey State Senate website Steinhardt4Senate.com
Oct 4, 2022
Page last updated: Feb 18, 2023