DFER Applauds Effort to Reform Teacher Tenure System in NJ

Advocacy

March 5, 2012

Public Hearing on TEACHNJ Act a Promising First Step

On Monday, March 5th, Democrats for Education Reform New Jersey released the following statement from State Director Kathleen Nugent regarding the NJ Senate Education Committee hearing on SB1455, the Teacher Effectiveness and Accountability for the Children of New Jersey (TEACHNJ) Act.

“New Jersey’s current tenure laws are out of date, costly, and inefficient. What’s worse, they don’t consider a teacher’s impact on student achievement, disrespecting the teaching profession and not placing the needs of students first. Data shows that in one year the top five percent of teachers can impart a year and a half’s worth of learning to their students; during the same year the weakest five percent of teachers impart only half a year’s worth of material to their students. Our children deserve better.

“TEACHNJ will drastically improve the way districts and schools in New Jersey evaluate and support teachers. The Act calls for the creation of a new teacher evaluation system that will identify great teachers, support struggling teachers, and in the case of persistent failure, remove ineffective teachers. Tenure decisions and staff reductions will be based on effectiveness rather than seniority, as they have been for far too long.

“We know that the single most important factor in a child’s academic success is whether or not she or he has an excellent teacher in the classroom. We applaud Senator Ruiz for her recognition of that fact and strong leadership as she takes a bold step toward improving education for all of our state’s children. New Jersey – with one of the largest achievement gaps in the United States – has the opportunity now to set a national example if the legislature leads us to an improved system. This is good policy for teachers, it is good policy for children, and it is good policy for the future of our state.”