Panel Members:

Julia Sass Rubin, Save Our Schools NJ

will discuss the likely impact on NJ public schools of the planned large-scale expansion of charter schools, the legislative push for private-school vouchers, and the introduction of for-profit school management companies. She also will talk about efforts to reform  the  current charter school  law  in order to give communities greater control over the establishment of charter schools and to ensure that charters are 

financially and educationally transparent and accountable and represent the demographics of sending districts.   

 

Stan Karp, Education Law Center

will give an update on NJ’s school funding formula and proposed changes that will impact all schools and districts. How can Montclair and other districts provide high quality education for all, from pre-K through high school?

 

Debra Jennings, Statewide Parent Advocacy Network, Inc. (NJ) and national board of Parents for Public Schools

will share how privatization of public education through charter schools and vouchers is heightening the inequities in education across the nation. NJ continues to have some of the most segregated school systems (by race, class, language & ability) in the country.  Will charters and vouchers increase segregation?  NJ has made considerable progress in closing achievement gaps.   Will resources for charter schools and vouchers stall these efforts?

 

Please contact Mary Beth Rosenthal (mbrosenthal@comcast.net net or 973.655.1659) if you plan to bring your children so we know how much pizza to order!