N.J. Legislature to approve $400M federal 'Race to the Top' grant application

Lawmakers expected to pass resolution in support of U.S. education grant, but do not endorse Christie's merit-based plan

Amanda Brown/The Star-LedgerNew Jersey Gov. Chris Christie (center) makes a budget address to a joint session of the Legislature earlier this year. Assembly Speaker Sheila Oliver (left) and Senate President Stephen Sweeney (right) look on.
TRENTON — The state Legislature is signing on to New Jersey’s application for up to $400 million in federal education funding — but without endorsing the plan’s most controversial elements, including a plan to base teacher pay on student achievement.

In a shift from what Education Commissioner Bret Schundler initially requested, lawmakers of both parties are expected to pass a resolution Thursday saying they support the state’s entry in the Race to the Top competition. The application deadline is June 1.

But the document does not endorse the Christie administration’s sweeping plans to overhaul the state’s education system and pay teachers based on how their students perform in the classroom.

"Rushing through processes that will change policy in great magnitude doesn’t benefit anyone at all," said state Sen. Teresa Ruiz (D-Essex), chair of the education committee and prime sponsor of the measure. "The resolution is something that everyone is going to support."

The New Jersey Education Association teachers union also backs the resolution, which supporters say was modeled on Delaware’s successful application package in the last round of the competition. NJEA spokesman Steve Baker would not say yMonday whether the union — which opposes merit pay — will endorse the entire application. The NJEA was accused of dooming the state’s chances by refusing to back its first Race to the Top attempt, which was rejected in March, when New Jersey was seeking $200 million to $400 million.

Along with merit pay for teachers, the administration proposes changes in tenure, evaluation systems that rely on student learning, a statewide data system to track student progress and plans to turn around or close failing schools.

When he unveiled the ideas earlier this month, Schundler called on lawmakers to approve a measure stating New Jersey will use "student learning as the primary yardstick" for measuring teachers. Today, he said that would have been "ideal" but this tactic is practical given the deadline and the importance of presenting a united front to the Obama administration.

"The question becomes, how do you communicate to the White House that you endorse the president’s education reform agenda, that we here in New Jersey agree with it?" Schundler said. "I think the approach we’re taking is a very good one."

The leaders of the Democrat-controlled Legislature may also be asked to endorse specific changes outlined in the application, while the NJEA would be a part of a panel on how to evaluate students, teachers and school districts, Schundler said.

Baker said the NJEA wants New Jersey to win the federal funding at a time when Republican Gov. Chris Christie has proposed slicing $820 million in aid to schools. "It should be done in the right way," Baker said. "If you want to make good education policy, you can’t exclude educators from the process."

Senate Minority Leader Tom Kean Jr. (R-Union), another resolution sponsor, said the Legislature would still delve into the administration’s proposals, but in the meantime, this would gives the state a better shot at winning a grant. "It’s very important ... to say we have bipartisan support," Kean said.