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Sunday, July 20, 2014

Wednesday, July 2, 2014

NJ Common Core Solutions

In addition, I've now also attached the Amendments we seek. I've asked Sen. Jeff Van Drew's constituents to pressure him to add these as he's a Prime Sponsor of the Senate Bill and that would be powerful. I also asked Sens. Mike Doherty and Diane Allen to offer a friendly Amendment since the latter are on on the Senate Ed Committee. Thus, add contacting them to the list highlighted is key - and specifically about these Amendments - as well as not merely "discussing" S2154 as listed on the Agenda, but moving it out of Committee.   
Sweeney: See Below We want him to get Ruiz to move the Bill. Not just discuss. We don't want just reg changes. 
Others members of the Senate Ed Committee: See Below

Now, note John Mooney's column today. 
There's effort afoot behind the scenes to do away with any task force, no political will to delay the "implementation" of tests and standards, and merely regs being considered to lessen the blow on teachers. That is *NOT* acceptable. We want statewide public hearings, costs, comparisons, etc. We don't to merely protect the NJEA. The students will continue to be "guinea pigs" in this experiment as Gates mentioned!!! And, taxpayers will continue to pay for it!

If you want to discuss this further, call me. I got 3 hours sleep last night, 3 hours the night before, need to prepare for tomorrow (may try to get to Hespe's office with a packet and ask to see him w/o appt) need more rest tonight. And, too much more. 

If all this fire at the Pesta meetings were invested in making these calls and/or visiting legislative offices or traveling to Trenton at this vital time, then I could be excited, too.  Until then, it's just a waste of time. This could be over in the legislature this week - or, at latest next week. In other words, much ado about nothing.



COMMON CORE/PARCC LEGISLATION OVERWHELMINGLY PASSES NEW JERSEY ASSEMBLY!
 72 VOTES AFFIRMATIVE; 4 VOTES NEGATIVE; 1 ABSTENTION! 
ASW. ALISON MCHOSE SURFACES IMPORTANT AMENDMENTS! 
THANK YOU ALL LEGISLATORS FOR YOUR SUPPORT OF A.3081!
THANK YOU EVERYONE WHO CONTACTED THEIR LEGISLATORS!
NOW ONTO THE NEW JERSEY STATE SENATE!
CIRCULATE!

Here's a general recap of the proceedings in the New Jersey State Assembly voting session today, June 16, at approximately 4:14 PM, concerning A.3081:  

Assemblywoman Mila Jasey (D), Prime Sponsor of A.3081, introduced the Bill on the Assembly Floor, mentioning that this Bill was a "pause in action"; a lot is  going on at a fast pace; the goal was to successfully implement agreed upon goals, but there needed to be a course redirection. Asw. Jasey went on to state that this legislation was to "slow it down" - not stop - and that we need to get it right. 

Then, Assemblywoman Alison McHose (R), an early Co-Sponsor of A.3081 last year when it was A.990, rose to thank Asw. Jasey for this important step and that there were many citizens from all walks of life interested in watching this today. However, she added, there were still missing important points. 
~In the last session, the earlier bill (A.990) delayed implementation of PARCC testing. A.3081 does not.
~Another point is that we should consider delaying Common Core Standards.
Asw. McHose then made a motion to return A.3081 for a 2nd reading to include these missing points.

Assemblyman Louis Greenwald (D) then rose to request that Asw. McHose's motion be tabled. 
Assemblywoman Bonnie Watson Coleman (D) seconded Asm. Greenwald's motion to table.

A voice vote was taken and Assembly Speaker Prieto (D) ruled the motion to table passed. 

Asw. McHose then asked for a "recorded vote". 
A Recorded Vote was taken per Asw. McHose's request. The vote was 50 in favor of tabling her request; 27 opposed to the tabling; and no abstentions.

The final vote:
A. 3081 received 72 Votes in the Affirmative; 4 Votes in the Negative; and 1 Abstention. 

Now, onto the Senate Education Committee (see contact information below) where the companion Bill of A.3081, S.2154, will be "discussed" on Thursday, June 19, 10AM, Committee Room 6, 1st Floor, State House Annex. Please attend and/or contact legislators on the Senate Education Committee to express your opposition to Common Core/PARCC and that, although you support S.2154, it would be improved with Amendments such as those referenced by Asw. McHose above. 

SENATE EDUCATION COMMITTEE   
Ruiz, M. Teresa - Chair     
Turner, Shirley K. - Vice-Chair 
Allen, Diane B.   
Beach, James   
Doherty, Michael J. 

FURTHER, CONTACT SENATE PRESIDENT STEVE SWEENEY BEFORE JUNE 19!

PLEASE EXPRESS ALL OF YOUR CONCERNS TO SENATOR SWEENEY ABOUT COMMON CORE / PARCC. 
WE WANT HIM TO PUT HIS POWERFUL, LEADERSHIP ROLE BEHIND AN EXPEDITIOUS PASSAGE OF A.3081/S.2154 SO THAT A TASK FORCE AND STATEWIDE PUBLIC HEARINGS SPONSORED BY THE NEW JERSEY STATE LEGISLATURE MOVES QUICKLY! TO WAIT IS UNACCEPTABLE. ALSO GUIDE HIM THAT IT'S ALSO IMPORTANT THAT THE IMPLEMENTATION OF COMMON CORE STANDARDS AND PARCC ASSESSMENTS BE DELAYED UNTIL THAT TASK FORCE REVIEW AND NEW STATEWIDE PUBLIC HEARINGS ARE COMPLETE.   
  
HERE IS SENATOR SWEENEY'S CONTACT INFORMATION: 

Senator Stephen M. Sweeney (D)    Senate President
935 Kings Highway    Suite 400    West Deptford, NJ 08086-2238
Phone: 856-251-9801    Fax: 856-251-9752
199 East Broadway     Suite G     Salem, NJ 08079-1135
 Phone: 856-339-0808    Fax: 856-339-9626                               Email:SenSweeney@njleg.org     

USE THIS POSITIVE DEVELOPMENT WELL AS YOU SPEAK WITH VARIOUS BOARDS OF EDUCATION, PARENTS, TAXPAYERS, AND OTHERS THROUGHOUT NEW JERSEY!! THANK YOU! WE ARE ON THE MOVE!