There are clearly legitimate concerns about a plan on this scale in which nearly a quarter of the district’s schools are affected. Confusion about transportation logistics persists, and parents are understandably uneasy about the safety of their children traversing unfamiliar neighborhoods. However, contrary to claims that this protest tactic was devised in the best interest of South Ward students, the school boycott ultimately harmed a population of children who on average already miss too many days of school and lag tremendously behind their peers throughout the state in reading proficiency.The Newark Schools Advisory Board held a press conference to ask for more information about a contract that would evaluate the district’s One Newark Plan (NJ Spotlight) as part of a strategy to shut the plan down (Star-Ledger).
"Newark Public Schools' leaders have not listened to city residents who are opposed to the changes.You don't get to prescribe how people get upset," Baraka said. "What is unreasonable is to expect people to be silent while you abuse them."
But Baraka cautioned the audience against believing city activists are opposed all education reform initiatives."Our job is to fix them not close them," Baraka said of local schools. "Our kids deserve the best ideas.
Smothered in the rhetoric are the standards themselves. Actual curriculum and lessons are still determined by local school districts. The standards say children should learn to read. They do not tell them specifically what to read.” NJEA Pres. Wendell Steinhauer remarks, “There are so many myths now, and they have gotten so political. “We do have some issues with the tests and the teacher evaluations, which are being addressed. But we do support the standards. A lot of people don’t see that separation.”Education Week looks at the growing number of charter schools that serve children with disabilities.