The Ridgewood Blog Brings a Free Market Laissez-faire Point of View to Local, New Jersey State and National Issues.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, School districts across the country are beginning to release their school reopening plans. Many plan to remain online throughout the fall. As the next several weeks unfold, The Ridgewood School district and many of our neighboring districts will start to roll out their plans.
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, Recognizing the educational and social-emotional value to students of resuming in-person instruction, the New Jersey Department of Education today released guidance for school districts to conduct summer educational programming in-person, including Extended School Year (ESY).
“This is a crucial step that allows schools to plan summer learning programs and special education services that will provide assistance to those students who need it the most,” said Education Commissioner Lamont O. Repollet. “We’ve heard from countless parents and educators about the importance of summer learning and ESY, especially now that so many students and families have faced unexpected obstacles with remote learning over the past three months. We believe schools can provide the necessary summer instruction while ensuring the safety of students and teachers, and their families.”
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Over the past several weeks, people have been inquiring about what the plan is for the reopening of schools in the fall. Please understand that we are working on several different options and await some promised direction from the New Jersey Department of Education. Since we currently have no formal direction from the NJDOE, we are looking at what other states, Pennsylvania, Maryland, and Colorado, to name a few, have provided their schools and the public. This is what I can tell you. See the follow scenarios below:
Continue reading COVID-19 RIDGEWOOD PUBLIC SCHOOLS REOPENING AND RECOVERY
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, The New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) today released guidance regarding commencement ceremonies to honor 2020 graduates during the COVID-19 public health emergency.
The guidance outlines three options for K-12 school commencement ceremonies: 1) virtual; 2) drive-through/drive-in; or 3) modified in-person, outdoor ceremonies. Decisions about the most appropriate type of ceremony for each school community will be made locally, in consultation with municipal officials. At this time, only virtual ceremonies are permitted. Beginning July 6, 2020, drive-through/drive-in and modified in-person, outdoor ceremonies will be permitted subject to the requirements set forth in the guidance. These ceremonies must comply with the social distancing protocols and the limitations on in-person gatherings that are in place when the ceremonies are held.
Continue reading New Jersey Department of Education Provides Guidance on Commencement Ceremonies
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, Governor Phil Murphy today announced that the New Jersey Department of Education (DOE) and the Office of the Secretary of Higher Education (OSHE) will issue updated guidance allowing school districts and colleges/universities to hold modified in-person graduation ceremonies beginning on July 6. The guidance will include requirements that ceremonies be held outdoors, adhere to social distancing protocols, and observe capacity restrictions in order to protect the health of students and families celebrating these milestones amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.
Continue reading In-Person Graduation Ceremonies Can Begin on July 6
April 16, 2020
Dear Ridgewood School Community,
This afternoon, Governor Murphy announced that schools will remain closed through at least Friday, May 15, to help continue to flatten the curve and slow the transmission of coronavirus. This decision was made in careful consultation with the New Jersey Department of Health and the New Jersey Department of Education, as well as other key stakeholders. With over 75,000 cases of COVID-19 in New Jersey, we must all work together by social distancing and following the guidelines to help curtail the spread of this disease.
Billions in Spending Increases Proposed Before Crisis Remain Unchanged While Emergency Programs to Keep People Employed Run Dry Within Minutes
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, The Republican members of the Senate Budget & Appropriations Committee called on Governor Phil Murphy to announce which of the billions of dollars in new programs and spending and school aid increases he proposed in February will be scaled back to better fund emergency programs that are critical to helping small businesses survive and hundreds of thousands of New Jerseyans to stay employed.
Continue reading COVID 19 State of Emergency Requires Massive State Spending Cuts
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Ridgewood NJ, Dr. Fishbein began by reminding everyone that some form of the preliminary budget would be approved at the meeting so that it can be submitted to the New Jersey Department of Education for review.
Continue reading Dr. Fishbein Preliminary Ridgewood School Budget 2020-2021 of $115 Million
April 17,2018
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Lodi NJ, Attorney General Gurbir S. Grewal announced that a former New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission clerk pleaded guilty today to operating a scheme in which he accepted tens of thousands of dollars in payments in return for allowing over 200 people to obtain permits and licenses without passing required exams.
Rodman Lora, 39, of Ridgewood, N.Y., a former clerk at the Lodi MVC Agency, pleaded guilty today to charges of conspiracy (2nd degree), computer criminal activity (2nd degree), and tampering with public records (3rd degree) before Superior Court Judge James J. Guida in Bergen County. The state will recommend that Lora be sentenced to seven years in state prison, including two years and four months of parole ineligibility. He must forfeit his pension and will be permanently barred from public employment. Lora was charged in an investigation by the Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau, the New Jersey Motor Vehicle Commission and the Bergen County Sheriff’s Office. The investigation revealed that Lora altered MVC driver records for over 200 people between 2014 and 2016, enabling them to obtain various permits and licenses without having passed the mandatory written and/or driving exams, including commercial driver’s licenses with school bus and HazMat endorsements. In return, he received cash payments averaging over $700 per license or permit.
The following two men were indicted with Lora and pleaded guilty today before Judge Guida to tampering with public records (3rd degree):
Luis Tiburcio, 46, of Passaic, N.J., was paid to act as a “runner” for Lora and bring him customers in the illegal scheme. The state will recommend that he be sentenced to three years in state prison.
Masood Ahmadi, 55, of Lake Hiawatha, N.J., is the owner of Ideal Transportation, a school bus company operating in northern New Jersey. He sent people seeking commercial driver’s licenses to Lora to obtain licenses through the scheme, including relatives and persons seeking employment with his company. The state will recommend that he be sentenced to probation.
Deputy Attorney General Christopher J. Keating prosecuted the defendants and took the guilty pleas for the Division of Criminal Justice. Sentencing for the defendants is scheduled for June 15.
“When motor vehicle clerks engage in fraud involving driver’s credentials, public safety is compromised,” said Attorney General Grewal. “It is particularly alarming that school bus drivers were being licensed illegally. My office will aggressively prosecute the illegal brokering and sale of driver’s licenses.”
“We will continue to work with the MVC to protect the public by identifying and charging those who engage in this type of fraud,” said Director Elie Honig of the Division of Criminal Justice. “Through this far-reaching investigation, we charged 70 people, including numerous customers of this illicit scheme.”
“The MVC does not tolerate any type of criminal activity whatsoever, either from customers or employees,” said Acting MVC Chair and Chief Administrator Sue Fulton. “This case is a prime example of our efforts to weed out fraud and abuse, enhancing security throughout the entire organization. We will continue to work with our partners in law enforcement to ensure the quality and integrity of our motor vehicle services, and the safety of New Jersey drivers.”
Nine defendants were indicted with Lora, including the two who pleaded guilty today and seven others. Two previously pleaded guilty to tampering with public records and face sentences of probation: Carlos Vicuna, 37, of Elizabeth, N.J., was a “runner” for the scheme, and Jose Lora, 45, of Newark, N.J., Lora’s brother, received a commercial driver’s license without passing the written exam. Charges are pending against one defendant and four others were admitted into the Pre-Trial Intervention Program.
Beyond the indictment charging those 10 defendants, the investigation led to charges against 60 other customers and runners, bringing the total defendants to 70. Eight of those 60 pleaded guilty to tampering with public records and face probation, and 52 were admitted into the Pre-Trial Intervention Program.
Deputy Attorney General Christopher Keating presented the indictment to the state grand jury for the Division of Criminal Justice Specialized Crimes Bureau. The investigation was conducted by Detective Cecil Boone, Sgt. Kelly Howard, Detective Jessica Marcacci and Analyst Terri Drumm, under the supervision of Sgt. Andrea Salvatini, Lt. Bill Newsome, Deputy Bureau Chief Andrew Johns, Deputy Bureau Chief Jacqueline Smith, and Division of Criminal Justice Deputy Director Jill Mayer.
The Motor Vehicle Commission uncovered the alleged scheme involving Lora and referred the case to the Division of Criminal Justice after an initial internal investigation and audit. Attorney General Grewal thanked the Motor Vehicle Commission’s Division of Security, Investigations & Internal Audit for its referral and valuable assistance. He also thanked the following agencies that assisted in the investigation: Bergen County Sheriff’s Office, New Jersey Department of Education, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, New Jersey Department of Treasury-Division of Payroll, Lodi Police Department, and U.S. Department of Homeland Security.
file photo by Boyd Loving
September 10,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, New Jersey Department of Education Teacher Evaluations for Ridgewood Schools.
New Jersey Teacher Evaluations 2015-2016
The database shows the number of teachers at each school who were rated ineffective, partially effective, effective and highly effective under the state’s teacher evaluation system. The state did not name the teachers or release their individual evaluations to protect their privacy.
Ridgewood High School 89 Effective 45 Highly Effective 134 total rated
Benjamin Franklin 36 Effective 20 Highly Effective 56 total rated
George Washington 36 Effective 19 Highly Effective 55 total rated
Hawes 11Effective 18 Highly Effective 29 total rated
Ridge 25 Effective 9 Highly Effective 34 total rated
Somerville 19Effective 13 Highly Effective 32 total rated
Travell 10 Effective16 Highly Effective 26 total rated
Orchard 18Effective 6 Highly Effective 24 total rated
Willard 29Effective 4 Highly Effective 33 total rated
August 2,2017
by Carolee Adams
Ridgewood NJ, The NJ DOE released statewide PARCC results yesterday. In a press release the NJ DOE claimed, “New Jersey students continue to achieve substantial gains in the third administration of the Partnership for Assessment of Readiness for College and Careers (PARCC) assessments in math and English language arts (ELA).
From the first to the third year of PARCC testing, over 88,000 more students met or exceeded expectations across all grade levels in ELA, and nearly 70,000 more students met or exceeded expectations across all grade levels in math. Meeting or exceeding expectations on the assessments is one indication of whether or not a student is on pace to be college and career ready.
Since the first PARCC administration, thousands more New Jersey students at every grade level have now taken the assessments, providing more parents and schools the chance to gauge how children are progressing academically against New Jersey’s standards and compared to their peers.
While the New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) is publicly releasing the statewide results today, school districts received their initial data before the school year ended in June – the earliest release in New Jersey’s 40-year history of statewide assessments. This early look at test results allows school districts to use the information to support students and educators. For instance, the information can be used to identify students who are struggling in a particular subject, and help teachers to develop summer school and fall lessons based on areas of strengths and weakness that emerge from the data. Results at the individual district level and school level are expected to be publicly released in September, two months earlier than last year.”
“Our students, with the essential support of their educators and parents, continue to rise to the challenge of meeting New Jersey’s academic standards,” said Education Commissioner Kimberley Harrington. “We remain committed to using a high-quality assessment, as required by federal and state laws, that quickly returns results to schools and provides an accurate picture of whether our students are developing the skills and knowledge they need to maximize their options beyond high school.”
The summary of New Jersey’s 2017 PARCC outcomes are available on the NJDOE website.
But a quick look at the results reveals just how awful they are:
1. 56% of students in grades 3 to 8 failed to reach proficiency on the Math test.
2. 47% of students in grades 3 to 11 failed to reach proficiency on the English test.
3. 54% of students who took the 10th grade English test were rated “not college or career ready.” This test determines if students can graduate.
4. Nearly 60% of students who took the Algebra 1 test were rated “not college or career ready.” This test also determines if students can graduate.
5. Fewer than 30% of students who took Geometry were rated “college and career ready.”
6. Fewer than 30% of students who took Algebra 2 were rated “college and career ready.”
With its credibility on PARCC in tatters, it’s not surprising the DOE tries to frame the latest PARCC results as a success. For starters, the PARCC test has changed in each of the 3 years it has been given, so it’s impossible to compare results from one year to another. Second, the number of students refusing the test is still significant, notwithstanding the DOEs intense pressure on districts to force students to take the test.
NJs students are not failing PARCC; PARCC is failing NJs students!
April 5,2017
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Ridgewood NJ, The New Jersey Department of Education ( NJDOE) has posted its School Performance Report for the 2015-16 school year.
As in previous years, the report allows visitors to view the academic performance of any district or any school by grade level. The report also includes a broad array of information not included in past years.
According to the NJDOE website :The New Jersey Department of Education (NJDOE) presents the 2015-16 School Performance Reports. These reports are designed to inform parents, educators and communities about how well a school is performing and preparing its students for college and careers. In particular, the School Performance Reports seek to:
Focus attention on metrics that are indicative of college and career readiness.
Benchmark a school’s performance against other schools that are educating similar students, against district and state-wide outcomes, and against state targets to illuminate and build upon a school’s strengths and identify areas for improvement.
Improve educational outcomes for students by providing both longitudinal and growth data so that progress can be measured as part of an individual school’s efforts to engage in continuous improvement.
The latest report provides data on faculty attendance, absenteeism, PSAT and ACT performance in addition to SAT scores, advanced placement and international baccalaureate counts, and the percentage of students concentrating in approved career and technical education programs.
However the report no longer provides “peer school comparisons,” however, which compared each school’s data to a group of similar schools.
For Ridgewood High School “Academic Achievement” : School wide Performance 72% of students met or exceeded expectations in English Language Arts Literacy Met or Exceeded Expectations putting RHS in the 91% Statewide Percentile.In Mathematics 71% of students met or exceeded expectations putting RHS in the 99% Statewide Percentile.
For College and Career Readiness Indicators , Percent of Students Participating in PSAT , RHS 64.4% vs Statewide 95.5% .
Percent of Students Participating in SAT ,RHS 42.4% vs Statewide 58.0% .
Percent of Students Participating in ACT ,RHS 58.4% vs Statewide 27.6%.
See the full report at https://rc.doe.state.nj.us/
file photo
Oral arguments before a Mercer County Superior Court judge are scheduled for May 3
March 31,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Trenton NJ, Six Newark parents yesterday opposed motions to dismiss HG v. Harrington, the lawsuit they filed last November challenging the constitutionality of New Jersey’s quality-blind “last in, first out” (LIFO) teacher layoff law. The motions to dismiss the case were filed earlier this month by local and national teachers unions, who intervened as defendants in the case last December. Oral arguments on the motions to dismiss are scheduled for 2pm on May 3 before the Mercer County Superior Court. Defendants from Newark Public Schools and the New Jersey Department of Education did not move to dismiss the case.
“The teachers unions clearly are not looking out for students’ best interests,” said Kathleen Reilly, attorney with Arnold & Porter Kaye Scholer, one of the law firms representing the Newark parents pro bono. “With education budget deficits in the tens of millions of dollars, the court urgently needs to hear these parents’ concerns about laws that require schools to keep ineffective teachers while letting effective ones go. If students’ educational rights are valued, these laws cannot stand.”
In their answer to the lawsuit, defendants from the Newark Public Schools overwhelmingly conceded that the LIFO law harms students, acknowledging that enforcement of LIFO in Newark will remove quality teachers, which leads to lower test scores, lower high school graduation rates, lower college attendance rates, and sharply reduced lifetime earnings. They also admit that the current practice of keeping ineffective teachers on the district payroll, including those in a pool of “educators without placement sites” (EWPS) is harmful and unsustainable, and that the EWPS pool would be wholly unnecessary were it not for LIFO.
To learn more about the parent-led lawsuit to end LIFO in New Jersey, please go to edjustice.org/nj. All legal filings related to HG v. Harrington are available online here.
file photo by Boyd Loving
February 15,2017
the staff of the Ridgewood blog
Ridgewood NJ, we read daily that drugs and alcohol have become a pervasive problem in New Jersey’s cities and suburban areas.
In a recently released New Jersey Department of Education list of substance abuse cases reported by each school district every year, the Ridgewood School district came in 137th in 2015-16 with an increase of 6 cases over last period 2014-15.
The state Department of Education cautioned that while districts are required by law to report them these numbers are reported by each district, so each district is responsible for reporting its results fairly and accurately.
