What's Waiting for the Winners In Trenton? Education Reform

Education reform may not have come up much as an issue in individual races leading up to last week's legislative election, but it has remained a big topic looming in the background for both the candidates and the special interests backing them.

For the candidates, it is arguably the biggest issue the legislature will face in the coming months. Whoever wins on Tuesday will almost immediately face a slate of education proposals on the legislature's docket, including charter school regulation, tenure reform, and school funding.

Meanwhile, a key player in the election is not on the ballot but may prove as potent as any: the New Jersey Education Association (NJEA), the statewide teachers' union.

The union's PAC has spent more than $1 million on a combination of individual races and statewide support, intent on making its presence felt both in the election and in the coming debate.

Adding to the urgency for the union, the debate on at least some of these issues is expected to start in earnest in the lame duck session this month, before the next legislative session even begins.

"Elections matter, and in terms of the education reform agenda, there has been talk that this election could be decisive," said Ginger Gold Schnitzer, the NJEA's government relations director.

"But I think much could happen before they ever take their seats," she said. "While we have worked hard on this election, we are very much preparing for the lame duck session as well."

In the election itself, the NJEA has been in putting its considerable muscle and money behind candidates that supported the union in last spring's fight with Gov. Chris Christie over pension and healthcare changes, a battle the union lost.

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