State of New Jersey Orrice oF mie Governor PO Box 001 Teanron NF 0625-0001 ‘Cams Curis Sune 1, 2010 Honorable Ame Duncan USS. Secretary of Edacation {Lyndon anes Johnion (LES) Department of Eduction Building 400 Maryland Avente, SW ‘Washington, DC 20202 Dear Secretary Duncan 1am pleasedto submit New Jersey's application forthe Race tothe Top program. [New Jersey rightly proud ofits oustanding public schools, many of which are recognized as smong he bes inthe country. So, to, are we proud of our children's academic achievement, s evidenced, for example, onthe National Assessment of Educational Progress. Sill, given the money that New Jersey tanpayers spend on public education -- we are currently the second nghest statin perpupl spending -- student achievement isnot what i shouldbe Perhaps more troubling isthe fact thatthe state which boasts some ofthe nation’s best ‘ublie schools also ishome to some ofits worst. Ths long-standing achievement gap his been treated as intractable, It persists despite massive infusions of fund nto chroma failing school districts and schools. This pplication embodies my administration's belie that the path to progres leads through the classroom directly to student achieverent. It recognizes that ate child walks through the school hase doors, no single factor influences that student's academic success more ‘than the quality of his or er teachers. Accordingly, this application emphasizes and includes several bold initiatives to improve teacher quality. These initiatives elevate the importance of teacher evaluations, Currently, however, the data dos nt exist to make proper evaluations. This application proposes to ‘enhance school distri” capabilites to measure stidentleaming in he classroom and use those measures o evaluate leechers’ effectiveness ‘A merit-pay system wil financially reward highly effective teachers and serve as an ‘incentive for adequate teachers to improve their erat. Italo rewards effective teachers who accept assignments i low-perfeming schools New ey ttn Ea Oppruniy Empayr Printed on Reece Pape and RecoTis application also proposes to evaluate teacher taining programs, so thatthe most lfestive programs canbe dentified and teachers schooled in thse programs can e recruited, ‘We also reccgnze that together with rewarding and promoting effective teaches, itis novessary to weed out ineffective leachers. Specifically, the application proposes to make it easier for school districts te terminate ineffective teachers and completely overhaul low-performing schools, ‘Under this application, teacher evaluation based on stent achievement will frm the ‘basis for decisions to grant tenure, promote and develop teachers, In the event of a workTorce reduction, education effectiveness, not seniority wil determine which teachers tetain their jobs ‘Succesfil schools usually are led by effective principals. This application proposes to offer finaneial incentive fo effective principals, ast does to effective teachers, relocate tO low-performing schools Please know that my Administration is commited to implementing thee initiatives regardless of whethe or not this eppietin is succesful Indeed, I amso committed 0 them that I cided that they should not be compromised to achieve a contrived consensus smong the various aected special interest groups. Winning the federal govemmen's financial suppor isnot the end, but rather a means 1 an end, which is (0 improve the quality of education provided to New Jersey students. Special interes hat have selfishly thwarted reform should not be permite to hold good ideas hostage. ‘That sid, 12m proud that so many organizations that represent New Jersey's public schools and eduicaton have endorse this application and conumltied themselves to implementing these relorm inte, 1 am particularly proud thatthe New Jersey Legislature through a unanimous vote «endorsed the principles which form the basis of ths application. ‘Student achievement isthe comestone of the education reform plan that is embodied in this application. Weesk for your suppor f this application and Took forward to working with the US Department of Education andthe fll range of New Jersey stakeholders in pubic ‘eation to impement this plan and improve educational achievement by our student,