Dear Editor:
The members of New Jersey United for Higher School Standards want to remind you how important it is that all of our state’s children get the top-quality education they need to prepare them to become productive adults.
New Jersey United is a group of organizations that have banded together to support the effective implementation of New Jersey’s Core Curriculum Content Standards. We believe higher education standards are the best way to ensure that New Jersey’s children receive the “thorough and efficient” education they are guaranteed by the state’s Constitution. The standards are also the most effective means by which our students can be challenged to meet the increasing demands of our rapidly changing world.
New Jersey United members represent a broad range of associations in the state. We hold a number of opinions about what constitutes effective implementation of the standards. But what we’re clearly untied on is how important it is for parents to have the tools they need to ensure that their children are getting the education that they need. We also want to ensure that we hear the concerns that parents and community members have about our education system, so that we can advocate for change.
To meet our goals, New Jersey United is hosting a series of community meetings, co-sponsored by the New Jersey Parent Teachers Association, in each of New Jersey’s 40 legislative districts. These meetings provide an unprecedented level of access to education experts, business leaders and community representatives willing to discuss standards and assessments. Our meetings allow attendees to learn firsthand what their local schools and teachers are doing to meet the standards. Attendees will receive a “Higher Standards Tool Kit” and other resources written in both English and Spanish.
We invite all interested stakeholders to join us at 7 p.m. on Wednesday, May 2 at The Robert Waters Elementary School, 2800 Summit Avenue, Union City for New Jersey United’s next community meeting. If you have any questions or comments, please visit our web site at www.newjerseyunited.org or call 973-802-4696.
New Jersey United for Higher School Standards Co-Chairs
Arthur Ryan, Chairman and CEO
The Prudential Ins. Co. of America
General Alfred Cade, former Chairman,
Commission on Higher Education