Corzine campaign continues focus on Education

by: Jason Springer

Thu Sep 10, 2009 at 10:45:00 AM EDT

During a tour of Perth Amboy's new early childhood center today, Gov. Jon Corzine announced the state has completed 45 new schools since January 2006.

Corzine said since 2006, the state School Development Authority has invested $5.3 billion in projects, which have generated an estimated 45,800 jobs and created 45,000 new student seats.

The governor also cited a recent report by the National Center for Education Statistics that shows New Jersey is one of only three states to narrow the achievement gap between black and white students in fourth grade reading and one of only 15 states to narrow the gap in fourth grade math between 1992 and 2007.

"We have a moral commitment to improve educational opportunities for the children of Camden and throughout New Jersey," Corzine said. "These results are a clear validation of our state's intense focus and commitment to preschool and early literacy interventions over the past few years and of our shared commitment to early childhood education."

Senator Loretta Weinberg criticized Republican Gubernatorial candidate Chris Christie for refusing federal recovery funds that would have gone directly to New Jersey's schools. The rejection of these funds would also lead directly to a $2 billion property tax hike.

"These children are the foundation of New Jersey's economy," said Weinberg.  "Christie's refusal of these critical funds is nothing more than a reckless attempt to garner favor with the extreme right wing of the Bush Republican Party. Governor Corzine has consistently stood with the children of this state while Chris Christie engages in the kind of petty politics New Jersey cannot afford."

As Governor, Corzine has taken significant steps to ensure that New Jersey children receive a world-class education. He prioritized early childhood education, making New Jersey a national leader in enrollment in preschool education. He broke a 40 year impasse on school funding with a formula that is rooted in our children's needs, rather than in zip codes. The new formula distributes money more evenly across the state, increases funding for special education, and boosts the state's support for extraordinary special education costs.