Submitted by:
The Rev. Reginald T. Jackson
August 13, 2009

I applaud Mr. Chris Daggett for his Education Policy announced yesterday. The policies espoused will not only restore integrity to New Jersey as it relates to education but much more importantly will help ensure that children in New Jersey receive a quality education. Presently New Jersey has low standards which make New Jersey look good but do not provide our children a quality education. It is important that we not only brag about great schools but that all of our schools are “factually great”, that we not only claim to have the highest graduation rate in the nation but that those who have a diploma in hand also have a quality education.

New Jersey spends more on education than any other state in the nation, but we are not getting a good return on those dollars when 20% of graduates can’t pass an 8th grade level assessment and 30% of “New Jersey Stars” need remedial help, 80% in some counties. New Jersey must do better for its children and be more honest with its citizens.

I call on the State Board of Education to follow through and raise standards on the HSPA, abolish the Special Review Assessment except for students who have emotional disabilities and reform tenure so that it is not lifetime and to make it easier to remove ineffective teachers.

In addition I call upon the other candidates to support the Urban Scholarship Act now bogged down in the General Assembly.

Mr. Daggett is to be commended for his well thought out education policies.