Senator Diane Allen

December 3, 2009

Contact: Bill Murray / (609) 292-5199
Senator Diane Allen (R-7), Senator Tom Kean (R-21)

Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and Senator Diane Allen, both members of the Senate Education Committee, expressed disappointment that New Jersey is woefully unprepared to apply for federal “Race to the Top” education grants. Published reports indicate that the state Department of Education ceased working on the application in mid-November. The deadline for the grant application is January 19, 2010.

“It is disappointing that the state Department of Education will be unable to complete the grant application by the deadline,” Kean stated. “I believe, especially in our current fiscal situation, it is imperative to make every effort to apply for all of the federal aid for which we are eligible. Remember, New Jersey only gets back 61 cents of every dollar we send to Washington. To refuse to apply for a $200 million to $400 million education grant is simply inexcusable.”

“My colleagues and I will work closely with the incoming Christie administration to ensure that we are prepared well in advance of the second-round deadline,” Allen continued. “Over the past several years education in New Jersey has been put in an almost untenable situation. I have high hopes that this situation is about to change and that our children will have access to the education that they need to succeed in the global economy.”

Senate Republican Leader Tom Kean and Senator Diane Allen, both members of the Senate Education Committee, expressed disappointment that New Jersey is woefully unprepared to apply for federal “Race to the Top” education grants. Published reports indicate that the state Department of Education ceased working [...]