Funding cut has New Jersey Schools scrambling
by Nancy Solomon/NPR
New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie says he plans to cut the state's education budget by $820 million. His big target: teacher pay and benefits. With state budgets in crisis, education is on the chopping block across the country. Schools are laying off employees and axing programs. California is so cash-strapped that its kids might have to start summer vacation early. School districts across New Jersey recently found out they were losing a big chunk of their state funding. A number are losing all of it. That's thanks to Gov. Chris Christie, who rode a wave of resentment about lost jobs and high property taxes into the governor's mansion last fall. He pledged to cut government spending, and during his recent budget address, he said his $820 million cut to education was aimed squarely at teacher pay and benefits. (more...)