JAMESBURG, November 18,
2000—Representatives of local school boards throughout the state today called
on the state and federal governments to address the high rates of student
mobility in certain communities.
Meeting as the Delegate Assembly
of the New Jersey School Boards Association (NJSBA), the local district
representatives acted on 13 proposals submitted by local boards of education.
NJSBA is a federation of the state’s 602 local school boards; the
Delegate Assembly is its major policy-setting body.
Student Mobility
Delegates called on the state to conduct a comprehensive study of student
mobility, its impact on education and learning, and funding problems. (click
here for NJSBA's research into student mobility described in the
NJSBA School Finance Committee Report. A summary
begins on page 5, and the full report begins on page 11. )
“Switching schools frequently can indicate severe problems, such as poverty, family instability, parents’ inability to maintain a home or job, and even drug use or child abuse,” said Patti J. Pawling, NJSBA president. “Student mobility can hinder a child’s education because it can be difficult for schools to obtain past academic records of highly mobile students, and therefore make it hard to address the specific needs to the child.
“The study shows that student
mobility may be having an impact on several New Jersey schools.
Clearly, we need a comprehensive statewide analysis to ensure that
students have the necessary resources to succeed,” she continued.
According to a report presented to
the NJSBA delegates today, almost 11% of the state’s elementary and high
schools have student mobility rates exceeding 30%. In 24.2% of New Jersey schools, more than 20% of the student
population changes school midyear.
Based on the report, the NJSBA delegates called on the state Board of Education to authorize a study into the causes of student mobility. The study would also address—
· Creation of a statewide database on mobile students
· Programming designed to help mobile students
· Reporting state test results separately for students enrolled in a school district less than two years
· The financial impact of high mobility on districts and creation of a new category of aid to assist these districts.
The NJSBA delegates also voted to
submit a resolution to National School Boards Association supporting the Federal
Migrant Education Program and seeking its continued funding.
Technology Endorsement
In other action, delegates approved a proposal from the Cherry Hill Board
of Education (Camden County) calling for a teaching endorsement, or certificate,
specifically for technology education. Teaching endorsements cover traditional
academic areas, as well as subjects such as agriculture and driver’s
education, but not technology. However,
the Cherry Hill resolution noted that without a technology teaching endorsement,
a highly qualified computer science teacher could be “bumped” during a
reduction in force and replaced by a veteran teacher with little or no
familiarity with technology. Several states—including Massachusetts, Michigan,
Kentucky, Idaho and Wisconsin—already have separate endorsements for
technology education.
“I can play the piano but that
doesn’t make me a music teacher; I can use Microsoft Word, but that doesn’t
make me a technology teacher,” said Donna Cohen of the Cherry Hill school
board. “We need to recognize the
importance of having people trained and licensed in technology.”
Class Size Reduction
The delegates also approved a proposal from the Cranford Board of
Education (Union County) that calls on NJSBA to seek funding and resources to
reduce class size in the primary grades. Research
has shown a class size of 15-20 students is especially helpful in raising
academic achievement for students in the early grades.
However, school boards have difficulty reducing class sizes without
jeopardizing other academic programs.
“Studies have shown that small class size has lifelong
benefits for our children,” said Mary Catherine Sudiak of the Cranford board.
Today’s decisions by the
delegates guide NJSBA in representing school boards’ interests before the
state Legislature, Congress and the courts.