Laura Waters

Managing Editor & Founder of @njedreport, mom of four, wife of one, equity wonk, Melville nerd.

[Laura Waters @laurawaters]

NJ's current state ed system has a culture of privileging adult interests over kids' learning needs. Thoughts on new @NCTQ report with input from @HeatherPeske. @NewJerseyDOE @GovSherrillNJ
https://t.co/9xF166yYJ4

[Sunlight Policy Center @SunlightPolicy]

States with strong teachers unions had weaker recoveries from COVID learning loss than states with weaker unions but spent 70% more on education. MS, LA, SC, AL, FL, TX did better than NJ, which spent twice as much. Students and taxpayers lose, @NJEA wins https://t.co/h3Cen36aK5

[Peter Shulman @peteshulman1]

@njsba is asking NJ school boards to adopt a "civility pledge." Perhaps they can couple this with a request that all school boards adopt strategic plans that actually prioritize and measure academic achievement -- very few do. @NJPIDoes @DawnFantasia_NJ https://t.co/C59w2IABrT

[Laura Waters @laurawaters]

Only 8% of NJ teacher prep programs use best practices to train prospective teachers to teach reading effectively. @NCTQ @NewJerseyDOE https://t.co/x3AGyLjdL7

[Marguerite Roza @MargueriteRoza]

“Our read is that there is a lot of money for districts,” Roza said. “This is a massive change.” In 20 years, she said, public schools might have four consistent revenue streams: federal, state, local and tax credit.

Me in @lizbowie piece in @BaltimoreBanner on ed tax credits

[Marguerite Roza @MargueriteRoza]

I expect that many districts will pull in ~ $1,000 per pupil.

Link to slides and webinar recording in reply.

[Laura Waters @laurawaters]

"If information is power, in the realm of public education New Jersey families are 99 pound weaklings." Here's why Sherrill should say yes to @NAEP_NCES expansion. @dany_egorov @karenvaites @IamAlinaAdams
https://t.co/M2l1fVPtR8

[Julie O'Connor @julieoconnorNJ]

Before COVID-19 struck, Newark students were roughly one grade level behind the national math and reading averages. Now they're more than two grade levels behind. But the pace of learning has picked up, fanning hopes that a turnaround may be beginning: https://t.co/GGHSMfpTBX

[JerseyCAN @JerseyCAN]

💬 Paula White, regarding Newark student learning: “We are seeing some indicators that should make us optimistic, and at the same time, not lose sight of the reality that is still dire, without question.”

ARTICLE ✍: https://t.co/PAr7hGFlDv

[Laura Waters @laurawaters]

Is there a correlation between NJEA’s demands for weakening of accountability, insertions of social justice memes everywhere all at once, & repression of public school choice to NJ students’ slow growth? @MichaelPetrilli @AEIeducation
https://t.co/AHYwAnyG5Q

[JerseyCAN @JerseyCAN]

Read Paula White's statement on the 4th annual "Education Scorecard" from Harvard University:

ARTICLE ✍: https://t.co/NM0hDPZqrn

[Laura Waters @laurawaters]

New rankings from @educationgadfly shows NJEA's firepower compared to other state teacher unions. What does that mean for kids? @NJEA @SunlightPolicy @NJGovPress
https://t.co/AHYwAnyG5Q

[Wake Up Call New Jersey @WakeUpCallNJ]

Our decline in academic achievement can’t be blamed on COVID or AI or any other scary caps-lock acronym. What changed? In 2018, we started:

•lowering thresholds for students to graduate

•eliminating basic skills from teacher training

•de-emphasizing student outcomes in assessments of districts and educators

Fortunately, we can recover these practices, and our commitment to academic excellence. And we know NJ kids are up to the task when we properly challenge them.

[Wake Up Call New Jersey @WakeUpCallNJ]

In the leadership vacuum from the federal level, individual states must step up and enact clear systems of accountability for academic achievement. NJ has plenty to learn from other states. On average, students are 0.6 grade levels below their 2019 performance in math. Learn how we can help students recover in this article from @njedreport:

https://t.co/Js7v7vEE5A

[Laura Waters @laurawaters]

"The @JerseyCAN community has applauded the Sherrill administration for its transparency &candor regarding the realities of education in our state." @NewJerseyDOE @https://njedreport.com/jerseycan-sherrill-knows-nj-schools-are-middle-of-the-pack-what-happens-next-for-our-kids/

[Peter Shulman @peteshulman1]

It’s Becoming Impossible to Know How Your Kid Is Doing in School https://t.co/Asvs7RHsoE via @NYTOpinion @WakeUpCallNJ @laurawaters @DawnFantasia_NJ

[Sean T at RCP @SeanTrende]

I almost hesitate to promote this, because it wasn't really intended to be a piece. I just sort of sat down and it came out. Maybe someone else out there has the same type of day today, and it'll speak to them.
https://t.co/xSMUDOrHcC

[Sunlight Policy Center @SunlightPolicy]

Unlike Gov. Murphy, @GovSherrillNJ called out the shortfalls and high cost of NJ's education system. MS outperforms NJ in many ways and spends half as much. Sherrill wants more bang for the buck while @NJEA just wants more bucks. Will she take on the NJEA? https://t.co/UIHf8CDuVN

[Peter Shulman @peteshulman1]

@laurawaters @HarvardCEPR @GovSherrillNJ @NJEA @CRPE_edu @natmalkus Hopefully this alarming student data provides a much needed @WakeUpCallNJ. Important to remember that NJ's students were making improvements through 2018 through a confluence of high expectations, targeted supports, recognition, & shared accountability. https://t.co/x5T2VsxTIT

[Laura Waters @laurawaters]

NJ’s leaders have a choice to make: Do we continue floating on pretense or forgo our obsession with local control and concentrate more power with the state? @HarvardCEPR @GovSherrillNJ @NJEA @CRPE_edu @natmalkus
https://t.co/exblmHmgsV