To no one’s surprise, the NJ State Legislature approved two education bills on the docket last night: the Urban Hope Act and legislation that allows local districts to move school board elections to November. Here’s coverage from the Star-Ledger, NJ Spotlight, My Central Jersey, and the Philadelphia Inquirer. Here’s the Assembly Democrats’ press release.

The Urban Hope Act (S 3002), sponsored by Senator Donald Norcross, passed the Senate on a 35-3 vote and the Assembly 56-17. The bill allows private companies to build and manage up to twelve schools in Camden, Trenton, and Newark. The bill was backed by NJEA. (See posts below.)

The school elections bill, A 4394, sponsored by Assemblymen Lou Greenwald, Paul Moriarty, and Wayne DeAngelo, passed the Senate by 34-3 and the Assembly by 62-11. The bill sets up a procedure by which school districts where budgets come in under the 2% cap can choose to bypass the budget vote and move school board member elections the general election in November. This change would have to approved by either 15% of the community or through a vote by school board members. (Unlike a previous incarnation of the bill, municipalities have no say.) The commitment by the board and/or community would be for four years. Writers of the bill hope to increase voter turnout – usually no more than 15% in April – and save as much as $12 million a year.

Gov. Christie is expected to sign both bills.