Sponsored by:
Senator M. TERESA RUIZ
District 29 (Essex and Union)
Senator THOMAS H. KEAN, JR.
District 21 (Essex, Morris, Somerset and Union)
Senator STEPHEN M. SWEENEY
District 3 (Salem, Cumberland and Gloucester)
Assemblyman PATRICK J. DIEGNAN, JR.
District 18 (Middlesex)
Assemblyman PAUL D. MORIARTY
District 4 (Camden and Gloucester)
Assemblyman JOSEPH R. MALONE, III
District 30 (Burlington, Mercer, Monmouth and Ocean)
Assemblyman RALPH R. CAPUTO
District 28 (Essex)
Assemblywoman MILA M. JASEY
District 27 (Essex)
Co-Sponsored by:
Senator Beck, Assemblymen Rumpf, Rumana, Ramos, Assemblywoman Voss, Assemblyman Wolfe, Assemblywomen Evans, Watson Coleman, Spencer, Assemblyman O'Scanlon, Assemblywoman Wagner, Assemblymen Fuentes and Wisniewski
SYNOPSIS
Expresses support for the submission of DOE's application for a federal Race to the Top grant.
CURRENT VERSION OF TEXT
As introduced.
A Concurrent Resolution expressing support for the submission of the Department of Education's application for a federal Race to the Top grant.
Whereas, New Jersey has been recognized nationally for its leadership in closing the achievement gap, establishing high academic standards and expectations for its students, and demonstrating student achievement on the National Assessment of Educational Progress; and
Whereas, the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act of 2009 has made available $4.35 billion for competitive Race to the Top grants to states making the most progress in education reform and innovation; and
Whereas, the Race to the Top program presents an opportunity to attract millions of dollars to New Jersey to invest in education and support progress toward Statewide educational goals and objectives; and
Whereas, the Race to the Top program focuses on four areas of reform, including: college and career-readiness standards and high-quality assessments for all students; preschool to higher education data systems; teacher effectiveness and the equitable distribution of effective teachers; and the provision of intensive support and effective interventions for the lowest performing schools; and
Whereas, Race to the Top grants are intended to save and create jobs and reform education, improve student academic outcomes, accelerate educational reform, and foster continuous improvement; and
Whereas, New Jersey has the opportunity to use the federal funding to be more innovative and creative in its educational investments in a manner consistent with the goals articulated by the United States Secretary of Education; now, therefore,
Be It Resolved by the Senate of the State of New Jersey (the General Assembly concurring):
1. The Legislature expresses its support for the submission of the Department of Education's application for a federal Race to the Top grant.
2. Duly authenticated copies of this resolution, signed by the President of the Senate and the Speaker of the General Assembly and attested by the Secretary of the Senate and the Clerk of the General Assembly, shall be transmitted to Governor and to the Commissioner of Education.
STATEMENT
This concurrent resolution expresses the Legislature's support for the submission of the Department of Education's application for a federal Race to the Top grant. The competitive program is designed to promote education reform by encouraging states to adopt innovative practices relating to college and career readiness standards and high quality assessments for all students, preschool through post-secondary education data systems, teacher effectiveness and the equitable distribution of effective teachers, and support and interventions in the lowest performing schools. The State would receive as much as $400 million over four years if the application is successful.