Future of N.J. school reform remains uncertain without federal funds, permanent education chief, by Chris Megerian and Jessica Calefati, Star Ledger, August 29, 2010
Did you spend last week at the Vineyard, or in a cave? If so, you might have missed the excitement in the Garden State. The Star-Ledger summed it up nicely: “The week started with controversy over a botched answer in the state’s 1,000-page application for Race to the Top funding. It ended with Gov. Chris Christie’s messy firing of Education Commissioner Bret Schundler.” The state is forging ahead, however—a spokesman for the governor said education reform efforts will continue despite the setbacks. Rochelle Hendricks, a longtime state education official, will serve as acting commissioner while the governor’s office searches for a permanent replacement. Andy Smarick—our very own Fordham Institute alum—is the new deputy commissioner there, and, according to the Star-Ledger, two sources close to the administration said the governor hopes to install him as Schundler’s permanent replacement. It may come as no surprise that Gadfly (and all the Fordham team) heartily supports this excellent plan. In Smarick, Christie has one of the best imaginable candidates for this post—indeed, one of the nation’s brightest education policy stars—already sitting just a few buildings away. And you don’t have to take our word for it; Education Sector’s Kevin Carey told the Star-Ledger, “Andy is not a bomb-thrower, not an ideologue, not someone who wants to tear down public education. He’s hard-working and sincerely focused on improving education for New Jersey’s children.” We couldn’t agree more!