Pallone Disappointed in NJ Governors Decisions on States Education Grant Application
June 2, 2010
“Funding in Race to the Top grants is distributed as part of the broader goal of the Recovery Act to create jobs and stimulate the economy which I fully support,” said Pallone. “I believe the governor’s hasty decision to take out our letter of support from the application hurt the state’s chances of receiving this needed grant money. Our children deserve the best from our leaders, and this was a case where they did not receive the best”
In the letter below, Pallone requests that Governor Christie consider the opinions of a broad coalition of community organizations in the future.
June 2, 2010
Governor Chris Christie
Office of the Governor
State of New Jersey
P.O. Box 001
Trenton, NJ 08625
Dear Governor Christie:
I write you to express my concern regarding your administration’s handling of the recent Race to the Top grant application made to the U.S. Department of Education.
I was heartened by your administration’s outreach to myself, my colleagues and other groups to garner common support and improve New Jersey’s chance at $400 million in federal funds. As you are aware, I and six of my colleagues in the House of Representatives sent a letter on May 27, 2010 to Education Commissioner Schundler supporting New Jersey’s application.
At the time we were led to believe that your administration had come to an agreement that would allow New Jersey to submit a strong application that had broad support from school organizations. Unfortunately, this was not the case.
Instead of supporting Commissioner Schundler’s agreement you back-tracked and changed the application, chastising your commissioner and some of the school organizations that negotiated an agreement.
I now understand that your office did not submit the letter that I and six of my colleagues wrote to accompany New Jersey’s application. As members of Congress who voted in support of the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, I believe that our support would have been valuable to New Jersey’s application.
In submitting a revised application you chose a course that defies consensus building. I believe that hurts the application and jeopardizes our state from receiving the funding.
I urge you to change course and engage all the community organizations that have an interest in the success of New Jersey’s schools. As governor, you should honor the agreement that your education commissioner negotiated. This is a time to work together for the benefit of our children and their future.
Sincerely,
FRANK PALLONE, JR.
Member of Congress