NJ Spotlight published the following article on June 26, 2014. To read the full article, click here.
SCHOOL-REFORM LEGISLATION, EDUCATION AID AMONG ITEMS ON YEAR-END AGENDA
JOHN MOONEY | JUNE 26, 2014Last-minute votes could delay Common Core-related tests, reconfigure impact on teacher evaluations
Up against the state budget deadline, the Legislature today will consider a few last-minute items that could prove pivotal in the debate over school reform.
The Democrat-led Legislature is expected today to decide on a state budget for fiscal 2015 in which school funding accounts for more than one-third of the spending, at more than $12 billion of a $34.1 billion budget.
The vast bulk of that will remain intact, whether or not Gov. Chris Christie agrees with the Democrats’ budget as proposed.
The most contentious debate — over additional taxes on the wealthy and businesses — is unlikely at this point to much on education spending.
But the Democrats’ budget nonetheless includes a few other tweaks in state spending for schools that are consequential. And the Legislature is also set to decide on some other contentious bills, including one to delay the consequences of new state testing tied to the Common Core State Standards.