Legislature Turns Out the Lights With Key Education Issues Still to Come

With the big issues put aside for now, a smattering of education bills saw their final action of the legislative session that effectively ended Monday. Several bills affecting contracts and instruction are now headed to the governor’s desk, and at least one notable bill has already been booted back to state lawmakers.

Gov. Chris Christie announced midday that he vetoed a bill that would have created a 21-member state task force to explore universal all-day kindergarten in New Jersey. It’s not a new idea, as discussions have taken place off and on for years to whether to require all-day kindergarten in a state where about a quarter of districts still don’t provide it.

But Christie issued an absolute veto of the bill, calling it “redundant” in light of what he said were the state Department of Education’s ongoing efforts to help districts in developing such programs, which he said should remain a local prerogative.

“In light of the work currently carried out by the Division of Early Childhood Education, the contemplated purpose of the sizable task force created by this bill would be redundant,” Christie wrote. 

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