On Monday, Feb. 8, Senate President Steve Sweeney (D-Gloucester) will unveil four bills calling for sweeping changes in pension and health care benefits for public employees – including current and future NJEA members and retirees.

While most of the proposals deal with prospective employees, some would have an immediate impact.

The proposed legislation seeks to implement changes to pensions and benefits that NJEA members successfully organized against in 2007 and 2008.

News of the bills was leaked to the Newark Star-Ledger, which ran a story in Sunday’s edition giving primary credit for the bills to Gov. Chris Christie, but they originated in Sweeney’s office.

NJEA staff have spent the weekend analyzing the four bills, which were obtained late Friday. NJEA will have a detailed public response on Monday, and UniServ offices will be in contact with presidents and other local leaders with additional information.

Please check back regularly for up-to-the-minute updates on this latest attack on the financial security of public school employees and retirees.

In challenging times, a reason for hope

New Jersey faces tremendous challenges in the years ahead. Our public schools are our most important resource for meeting those challenges. Find out how in this month’s Report on Education by NJEA President Barbara Keshishian.

RA self-nomination form available online

NJEA members who wish to self-nominate for state delegate positions to the 2010 NEA Representative Assembly (NEA Convention) have the option of doing so online. Log into Members Only to view the procedure and form.

This March will mark the fifth year of one of the nation’s top professional development conferences—the Celebration of Teaching and Learning. Once again, the celebration will be held in New York City, on Friday and Saturday, March 5-6, and public television stations THIRTEEN and WLIW21 will deliver an inspirational array of international talent for PreK-12 educators. There are a limited number of tickets available to NJEA members on a first-come, first-served basis.  More>>

Register online for NJEA tech conferences

The NJEA Technology Integration Conference will be held on April 24, 2010 at the Princeton Wyndham. Workshops include Google Documents, Google Geo Applications, and Google tools for collaboration. This conference is designed for experienced users. Registration deadline is March 31, 2010. Log in to register

Get set for Read Across America - NJ

On March 2, NJEA and its partners have exciting plans to celebrate reading in New Jersey. Visit our Read Across America page for details and other event ideas and resources.

Attend NJEA's Urban Education Best Practices Symposium

Because NJEA is committed to eliminating the achievement gap, the Association will hold its first Urban Education Best Practices Symposium on Saturday, April 17. The symposium will highlight instructional best practices from our urban and urban-like districts. These strategies have had a positive impact on increasing student achievement and can be used in any New Jersey classroom. More >>

Come see the New Jersey Devils take on the Buffalo Sabres Sunday, April 11. The game starts at 5 pm at the Prudential Center. For this game, you’ll save big on tickets with a special NJEA discount!   More>>

NJEA President Barbara Keshishian issued the following statement on the nomination of Bret Schundler to serve as Commissioner of Education.  More>>

After several meetings between President Obama, White House staff, and national labor leaders, there are some changes to federal health care reform legislation.  More>>

As local boards of education address their “Race to the Top” grant applications, NJEA has developed resources to help local education associations, community members, parents, and taxpayers analyze how the grant – and its emphasis on standardized testing – will affect their students and schools.  More>>

February Web Giveaway

NJEA members can register to win all of the following prizes: two nights at a Pocono Mountain Resort, a healthy lifestyle gift basket, and a family four pack to Madame Tussauds New York by entering the Member Benefits Web Giveaway. No purchase is necessary to enter.

The New Jersey Hall of Fame is calling for entries to its fourth annual essay contest which is open to all New Jersey students in grades 4 through 12. Students are asked to nominate potential inductees – living or dead – to the New Jersey Hall of Fame. Nominations must be postmarked by April 1.  More>>

All of us by now are aware of the anguish, heartbreak and devastation wreaked by the earthquake in Haiti, the worst to strike the small impoverished nation in two centuries. We've compiled many earthquake-related resources on how to donate and what your national union is doing to help alleviate the suffering of children and their parents. You'll also find a page of resources on how to teach your students about the disaster, and how to help them understand the magnitude of the crisis.   More>>

NJEA and the Trenton Thunder are pleased to offer free school assembly programs to NJEA members. These programs are offered – on a first-come, first-served basis – to public schools up to 50 miles from Mercer County Waterfront Park from October 1 through March 15.  More>>

WDHA 105.5 and WMTR 1250 AM in North Jersey (Morris, Essex, Bergen, and Passaic counties) and WRAT 95.9 and 100.1 WJRZ along the New Jersey shore (Monmouth and Ocean counties) will each recognize 24 teachers and one outstanding ESP member to receive the Teachers Who Rock Award. Nominations will be received through Feb. 19, 2010.  More>>

New Jersey’s public schools are succeeding and our students are achieving great things, but we need your help to maintain our successes.  More>>

NJEA and Radio Disney AM 640 present Read Across New Jersey, a reading contest for all Radio Disney 640 AM listeners who attend a public school in New Jersey. The school that reads the most books per student will be selected to win a Radio Disney Road Crew Appearance with a special Disney guest on May 20, 2010!  More>>

NJEA and News 12 New Jersey are seeking high school students who excel both academically and athletically. The NJEA/News 12 Scholar Athlete Recognition Program honors New Jersey high school seniors who are successful not only in the classroom, but on the court or on the field. The deadline for submissions is Feb. 19, 2010.  More>>