Acting N.J. Education Chief Says He’s Personally Reviewing School Funding Formula (NJ)

May 11, 2011

Acting New Jersey Education Commissioner Chris Cerf said he is
personally working on making changes to the school funding formula, but
stopped short of saying the issue is under official review by his
department.

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The comments came during Monday’s Senate Budget Committee
hearing on the Education Department after State Sen. Paul Sarlo
(D-Bergen) expressed frustration that the Christie administration was
criticizing the funding formula, even though it had bipartisan support 
when it was passed in 2008 and was blessed by the state Supreme Court.

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He said if Cerf was not happy with the formula then why not
come up with a new way to allocate state aid and bring it before the
Legislature.

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Cerf responded, “I am working on it now.” He said he is looking at changes “that might be effective and make sense.’’

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Later in the hearing, Cerf corrected himself. He said the
department is not formally reviewing the funding formula and that no
proposed changes are on the horizon. Instead, he has taken a personal
interest in the issue.

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The current state push for more charter schools was front and center Monday.

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Cerf said the he believes charter school teachers should be
hi red based on some standards, but does not believe that they need to be
certified like traditional public school teachers.

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“I don’t care if the teacher is certified if they can produce results,” Cerf said.

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State Sen. Barbara Buono (D-Middlesex) said the state is
looking to grow the number of charter schools in the state, even in
communities that don’t want or need them. She asked Cerf whether the
department has considered seeking voter approval before opening charter
schools.

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Cerf said no, saying the policy behind the growth is sound.

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At a town hall meeting last week, Governor Christie was asked whether creationism should be taught in public schools.

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He said local school boards “should be making those decisions about what curriculum is being taught in your schools.”

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Cerf agreed with Christie, but not before adding his two cents: “I don’t think creationism has any place in a science course.”