| Spotlight on Newark Education News |
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Schools across N.J. to share $8.2M in additional funds for rehiring teachers
In an effort to help rehire teachers laid off due to last year’s record budget cuts, Governor Christie announced that school districts across New Jersey will share an additional $8.2M in federal funds. Newark Public Schools is set to receive the largest portion of this money. Click here for full details.
Shavar quoted in NY Times article: Growing Push in Newark to Retake School Reins
Shavar continues to fight for community-based education reform. School reform is sustainable only in partnership with parents and the community. It will never last when imposed externally. As Shavar said to the New York Times, “the path to lasting reform runs through parents, not around them.” Read more here.
Newark School Board Members Lobby for Cameras at Public Meetings
 Shavar joined with other board members in support of a vote to televise the Newark Public School’s Advisory Board meetings. This initiative proposes to give parents another means to be more aware and involved in their children’s education. To read the article in its entirety, click here.
N.J. ranks 46th nationally for participation in the National School Breakfast Program
According to the group, Advocates for Children of New Jersey, and in conjunction with New Jersey Dept of Education and Agriculture, only 28 percent of New Jersey children eligible for free or reduced price meals were served breakfast at school last year through the federally funded program. Click here to read more.
Governor Christie signs the Urban Hope Act
Governor Christie recently signed the Urban Hope Act into law which gives nonprofit companies the authority to build a total of 12 schools in Newark, Camden, and Trenton. Click here to get more details.
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A Note From Shavar
Dear Stakeholder,
We have had a series of developments in our schools since I updated you at the beginning of the school year. Our new superintendent, working with the board, has launched extended-learning-time opportunities at over 20 schools; developed a teacher-evaluation pilot that seeks to fairly evaluate educator performance in ways that are linked to student achievement; launched testing under the American College Test to identify areas where students can be provided interventions to ensure they are college ready when they graduate from Newark Public Schools; contracted for data procurement and analysis services so that district officials have clear, real-time data about student achievement, and those areas where students need additional support to drive achievement; and has launched a Community and Family Engagement Office to ensure parents and community work collaboratively in the work of improving kids’ lives.
I stay connected to parent concerns through visiting schools, community associations, and parent-teacher organizations to ensure I am responsive to parent and community needs. I continue to remain focused on the mission of expanding high-quality school options for Newark families. For me, as I have said before, my focus is on effective schools for all kids, whether district or public charter. And my only concern is the effectiveness of the school and educating our kids, not tired and distracting false choices about district and charter schools. I look forward to continuing to work with you to ensure that all Newark children have access to a high-quality public education.
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Best,
Shavar Jeffries
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UPDATES from NPS
The Advisory Board approved a $600k auditing contract with WISS & Company in January, which will examine inefficiencies in the district and will look into internal controls to determine if new procedures need to be put into place. Read more here.
American College Testing (ACT)
In an effort to ensure that all Newark students are college and career ready by their anticipated graduation from high school, NPS has partnered with ACT to bring about several initiatives. NPS believes the ACT is an effective measure of college readiness and can be used to inform families, motivate students, and help schools focus on students’ academic needs.
ACT also provides services to principals, teachers, families and stakeholder groups. Additional support is extended to parent liaisons and coordinators and regional special assistants through a tracking system. ACT information and additional resources can be found on the NPS website at the following links:
– ACT Resources for School Staff
– ACT Resources for Students and Families
School Dashboard Reports
School Dashboard Reports for 2010-2011 will be ready for review in early February. The reports, which are sent to all schools, including high schools, reflect an accurate baseline of how their school performed during the previous academic year. Many schools have already received a draft analysis of how their school is doing compared to the past year.
Makers of the reports are currently in the process of verifying the data and working to determine how best to measure outcomes in a way that reflects the diversity of challenges that schools face. It is their hope to create reports that will create a baseline of school information and utilize ongoing engagement and feedback from a broad spectrum of stakeholders, and that the process is refined over the coming months and years.
Teacher Evaluation Pilot
Superintendent Cami Anderson expressed disappointment in the Newark Teachers Union (NTU) for their less-than-receptive response to the pilot teachers evaluation system set to launch in half a dozen under performing schools in Newark. Its leadership was apprehensive on some of the details in the plan. Click here to find out more.
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| SHAVAR IN THE COMMUNITY
Shavar promotes success for Newark by fighting for reforms to its public educational system. His work continues to be recognized. Recently, Rutgers School of Law-Newark welcomed Shavar to discuss the effectiveness of the No Child Left Behind Act. Also, late in 2011, the NAACP honored Shavar with their Freedom Fund Award.
Shavar inspires students at LINK Community School and encourages them to serve their community. Read more about Shavar’s speech here.
Shavar partakes in a robust discussion about ways to sustain young people’s successful engagement in schools at the Beyond the Bricks panel.
Project Re-Direct presented Shavar an award in Excellence & Community Service.
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Upcoming Business Meeting of the Advisory Board:
Tuesday, February 21th – 5:30 p.m.
@ Central Office, 2 Cedar Street
10th Floor Conference Room, Room 1010
Newark, NJ 07102
Upcoming Public Meeting of the Advisory Board:
Tuesday, February 28th – 6:00 p.m.
@ West Side High School
403 South Orange Avenue
Newark, NJ 07103
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