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Wednesday, October 6, 2010

Ex-education chief says Christie was focused on battle with NJEA in Race to the Top application | NJ.com

Ex-education chief says Christie was focused on battle with NJEA in Race to the Top application | NJ.com

Ex-education chief says Christie was focused on battle with NJEA in Race to the Top application

Published: Wednesday, October 06, 2010, 8:25 PM Updated: Wednesday, October 06, 2010, 9:56 PM
schundler-race-to-the-top.jpgFormer education chief Bret Schundler at his home in Jersey City, Aug. 27, 2010 .
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TRENTON — So far, the biggest fight in the ongoing controversy over the state’s failed Race to the Top application has been about an accidental clerical error that cost the state $400 million. A deeper look at the state’s application may tell a different story.

Fired education commissioner Bret Schundler said, in interviews as he prepared to testify before the state Senate Thursday morning, the bigger problem was Gov. Chris Christie’s insistence on perpetuating his battle with New Jersey’s leading teachers union. If Christie had permitted Schundler to submit a Race to the Top application endorsed by the New Jersey Education Association, the state would have racked up more than enough