TRENTON — Acting New Jersey Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf said he is personally working on making changes to the school funding formula, but stopped short of saying the issue is under official review by his department. The comments came during today’s Senate Budget Committee hearing on the Education Department after State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) expressed frustration that the...
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Acting NJ Department of Education Commissioner Chris Cerf listens to questions from a committee member as he testifies before the Assembly Budget Committee at the Statehouse in this April 2011 file photo.TRENTON — Acting New Jersey Education Commissioner Christopher Cerf said he is personally working on making changes to the school funding formula, but stopped short of saying the issue is under official review by his department.
The comments came during today’s Senate Budget Committee hearing on the Education Department after State Sen. Paul Sarlo (D-Bergen) expressed frustration that the Christie administration was criticizing the funding formula, even though it had bipartisan support when it was passed in 2008 and blessed by the state Supreme Court.
Sarlo said if Cerf was not happy with the formula, then he should come up with a new way to allocate state aid and bring it before the Legislature.
“I am working on it now,” Cerf responded. He said he is looking at changes “that might be effective and make sense.’’
Later in the hearing, Cerf corrected himself. He said the department is not formally reviewing the funding formula and that no proposed changes are on the horizon. Instead, he has taken a personal interest in the issue.
The current state push for more charter schools was front and center today.
Cerf said he believes charter school teachers should be hired based on some standards, but does not believe that they need to be certified like traditional public school teachers.
“I don’t care if the teacher is certified if they can produce results,” Cerf said.
State Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) said the state is looking to grow the number of charter schools in the state, even in communities that don’t want or need them. She asked Cerf whether the department has considered seeking voter approval before opening charter schools.
Cerf said no, saying the policy behind the growth is sound.
At a town hall meeting last week, Gov. Chris Christie was asked whether creationism should be taught in public schools.
He said local school boards “should be making those decisions about what curriculum is being taught in your schools.”
Cerf agreed with Christie, but not before adding his two cents: “I don’t think creationism has any place in a science course.”
