Christie tackles N.J. educational changes

After months of complaining about the current system, Gov. Chris Christie is sending his own proposals for education reform to the New Jersey Legislature.

The governor’s plan calls for teachers to be granted tenure only after three years of “effective” evaluations. Tenure protections would be lost if a teacher had one year of “ineffective” ratings.

Christie also wants to base teachers’ compensation on effectiveness in improving student learning.

“This is a profession where there are no rewards for excellence and no consequences for failure,” said Christie Wednesday. “We need to end that, and we need to make teachers work as hard as they work now, but when they do well, be compensated more for it.”

The governor also wants school districts to be allowed to opt out of the civil service system.

A New Jersey Education Association spokeswoman said the teachers union does not believe the proposals will improve public education.

If lawmakers approve the measures, Christie said they would take effect in the 2012-2013 school year.