with all the hubris surrounding the state's recent activities regarding our schools and local control - what ever happened to this "new" local pro choice/voucher organization and what is it up to now?

more on "Excellent Education for Everyone (e3)", website here- http://www.nje3.org/

from the site - http://www.nje3.org/?page_id=1499


E3 is part of an advocacy group
NJSCA engages the public in the discussion about the need for legislative action that guarantees parental school choice. The intent is to provide public funding that follows children to the school of their parents? choice, whether public or private.

E3 is a coalition of nonpublic school choice providers
School Choice Now describes the umbrella of activities dedicated to helping low income children access the full range of nonpublic educational options available to them. These include: non-public preschools, federally-funded private tutors, charter schools, parochial schools, private special education placement, and home-schooling.

Shelly Skinner is the Director of Development of Learning Commuinty Charter School, and Steve Fulop is on the LCCS Board of Trustees.

First go to the meeting, Trambone, then blow your horn all over it if you want to.


Quote:

This sounds good, but the current state administration seems against fixing our schools. Merit based pay is a fraud. Its like chris rock said about some parents. "I take care of my kids. Your supposed to take care of your kids."

They need to find a way to dump bad teachers. sometimes you can't reach the kids and sometimes you just aren't trying.

Plus how do you justify merit based pay for the arts, phys ed, home ec, etc.

Althea,

Can you tell me where the organization stands on charter schools and merit pay for teachers. thanks.

I am passing this on for anyone who might be interested. Click on this link to the Evite or read below, http://www.evite.com/pages/invite/vie ... CHNNTTIMHWWFQOC&src=email

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Dear Friends:

If you are concerned about the state of Jersey City's public schools, please join us for this very special event.

While Jersey City continues to make enormous strides in its growth, it will never reach its full potential until it can provide every student with a quality education. Right now, many children in Jersey City are being left behind; losing a chance to ever be truly equal. It's not a secret. At all grade levels, Jersey City's public school students perform below state averages. Last year:

- 25 of Jersey City's 38 schools failed to meet the state's definition of "adequate yearly progress" under the federal No Child Left Behind (NCLB) legislation. Four out of Jersey City's five high schools have failed to make adequate yearly progress for seven consecutive years and one elementary school has failed for nine.
- 63.8 percent of Jersey City students taking the High School Proficiency Assessment passed the language arts test compared to the state average of 83.6 percent. Students can pass this test by answering just 47 percent of questions correctly.
- 34 percent of Jersey City graduates could not pass the High School Proficiency Assessment, after taking it as many as three times.

It doesn't have to be this way.

Let's end this race to the bottom. Together we can change the trajectory of Jersey City's schools, expand the number of options for parents and families plagued by chronically underperforming schools, and ensure that we race to the top through accountability, innovation and advocacy. The return of Jersey City schools to local control, the Obama Administration's investment and commitment to school improvement, the appointment of a new Governor and Commissioner of Education in Trenton offer a tremendous opportunity to turn around Jersey City's school system. But we need your help. A passionate and involved community is essential to making the most of this important moment. Please help us build a new community organization with a simple and urgent mission - to make Jersey City public schools great, and to ensure families have options when and where they are not.

Please join us for this important kick off event on March 12. We hope to see you there.

Councilman Steven Fulop
Shelley Skinner, Founder, Jersey City Families for Better Schools
Excellent Education for Everyone (e3)

Parking at Fire & Oak: Valet parking is $5. Self Parking in the garage behind the Westin Hotel is free up to 4 hours with Validation from the restaurant.